Cloning A Tank?

[stang1]

I wonder if anyone could help me on this matter?
We need to set up a tank ready for use straight away and I've heard about cloning tanks before but am a little unsure.
The tank will be a 48G and we were planning on using media etc. from one of our two filters that are fitted to our Pleco tank. We will also be using RO water to fill the tank.
Doing it this way, will the tank be ready for inhabitants the following day?
Any help much appreciated.
Angie

 

[andywg]

Yep, so long as you don't let the bacteria die off (from letting the media dry out, or be out of good flow for too long) and you have enough media for the inhabitants you will be fine from the off. It's how all my current tanks were set up.

 

[stang1]

Yep, so long as you don't let the bacteria die off (from letting the media dry out, or be out of good flow for too long) and you have enough media for the inhabitants you will be fine from the off. It's how all my current tanks were set up.

Thanks Andy!
The media will be transferred straight away to the new filter so won't have a chance to dry out. We will be using an external filter so won't transfer anything until the tank is filled.
Thanks once again.

 

[WILDER]

You might have a mini cycle if you are adding new substrate.

 

[doresy]

this sounds good. I am starting a fry tank asap and intend to pack the new filter with old media and even the contents of my next water change! Will bung in a dose of TetraAqua Bactozym for good measure (well, I believe in it!) Fish (fry) will go in as soon as it clears

 

[stang1]

That'll be the only problem, we will be using new sand. Will that affect it?

 

[WILDER]

Yes as there will be no benefical bacteria in it.
Could take some from another tank if there no desease in it and add some new back to the mature tank.

 

[andywg]

No it won't.

The only time a new substrate will cause a problem is if you have a UGF. If the media is in a filter then using that media will be fine as that is where the bacteria colony will be.

Trust me, I have 6 tanks running from cloning, and have never used substrate to help clone.

 

[stang1]

Thankyou Andy and Wilder.
I'll let you know how I get on. I'll be testing the water before we add anything just to be on the safe side!

 

[WILDER]

Good luck stang1 another tank set up and running.

 

[stang1]

Good luck stang1 another tank set up and running.

Thanks Wilder. This will probably be the last one....

 

[andyw823]

You might have a mini cycle if you are adding new substrate.

Your right there, this happened when i cloned and used new gravel, ammonia had a slight rise but soon settles!

 

[rdd1952]

I agree with Andy. There isn't enough bacteria in the substrate to matter unless it's a UGF filter. When you do stock the tank, don't stock too heavily. Cloning doesn't mean the tank is completely cycled for a full fish load as you are only adding a portion of the bacteria from the other tank. For instance if you took half the media from a 48G tank and added it to another 48G tank, at best you would only have half enough bacteria and most likely less than that as there would be some bacteria present on the actual filter walls, decorations, etc.

 

[Squid]

Good luck stang. Just remember (someone correct me if i'm wrong) you will have a cycled tank but not a mature tank, so just choose the new inhabitants carefully with that in mind.

Cheers
Squid

 

[stang1]

Thanks to all who replied.
We actually managed to set up the tank today and all is going well for now....
We've took the media from a 137G tank so hopefully there is plenty of bacteria!

Squid- Thanks for that, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We are only adding 4 small fish so it shouldn't be a big overload. We have got another tank on standby but would prefer to add them to the new one.
We will be keeping a close eye on all water stats just to make sure.