Cycling A New Filter In An Established Set Up

Taminky · Jan 20, 2012

Hello.
I am preparing to set up an aquarium.
It's not my first and certainly won't be my last.

I have a new tank for which I have ordered, online, some sand substrate.
My sand has not yet arrived and won't be arriving for a while due to lack of stocks.
So.....I thought about preparing other things while I wait.
I have several other established tanks and my question is....can I put my new filter into one of my already establish tanks to speed up the new tank cycling phase?

What is the chance of transferring nasties to the new tank? (not that there are any nasties in my tank but you never know)
Will putting the new filter in an established tank cause a mini-cycle?

I also want to know how I can make an archway cave type thing for my xmas moss to grow on without using metal....needs to something sturdier than bird netting type stuff? Not wood either because I would have to find an exact piece (impossible!)

tetra123 · Jan 20, 2012

You can put the filter in, however another method which would mean that the other tank would not be left filterless would be to put some of the media out of the established filter into the new filter in the new tank.

Crazybob · Jan 20, 2012

For the archway, you could try something simialar to this method (Instant Moss Wall)but use egg grate. just cut a few squares out and silicone it together. That's my thought about it. you can make the rough arch with the egg grate and then attach the tank divider to it if the egg grate is too large.

Taminky · Jan 20, 2012

Thank you Tetra123.
My filter media is not really interchangeable. I would have to cut big chunks out of the foam sponge to transfer some.

Crazybob that is such a good idea!
Using a divider never crossed my mind and I completely missed that topic. Ditzy me!
I did think about drilling lots of hole in a perspex sheet but I decided against that as I can be quite clumsy and I'd probably break the thing.
I don't have any dividers at the moment but I seem to remember that they can be curved and cut to size....seems perfect.
Thank you. I have a new project to work on now :hyper:

Oh and my new tank doesn't have water in yet as I decided against this as the substrate will be sand.
So no harm leaving it without a filter for the time being :nod:

OldMan47 · Jan 20, 2012

The fastest way I have found to clone a filter is to use my new tank as a cleaning bucket for an established filter. The new filter picks up lots of the bacteria that get knocked loose and in less than a week I usually have a nice established filter in that new tank. Once I have the sample on that new filter, I dose with ammonia just like a typical fishless cycle to verify that I got a good clone and finish it up before adding fish.You could do the same ting in your cleaning bucket while waiting for that new tank. Just run the new filter on the bucket while waiting for the new tank.