Cycling a new tank with another tank's water?

[beercan]

Hi, just bought a new tank for my dwarf puffer I plan to buy.
I know you lot will see this as a big sin, but I've never cycled a tank before (didn't even know what that was til I came here!)

Therefore, I want to do it right this time, so I was wondering, is it possible/sensible to fill the new tank with some of the water from the old tank to "get it started"? Would this have any positive effect on the tank?

Or should I just start from scratch with new dechlorinated tapwater and follow new tank cycling rules?

Thanks guys.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Adding water from anohter tank really won't work, as the beneficial bacteria don't live in the water. However, the bsactia do live in the gravel, on decorations, in the filter media, and on an old carbon filter to name some potiential sources. Can you add any of those to your tank?

 

[rdd1952]

There aren't any bacteria present in the water column. Bacteria colonize the filter media, walls and other surfaces in the tank. So using water from an existing tank won't do anything to aid in cycling a new tank. If you can get some filter media from and existing tank, that would help. Even some gravel/sand would help. Just put it in a stocking and hang or lay it in the tank. If you can't find some media, then just start from scratch by adding ammonia. I don't have puffers but I understand they are very delicate so make sure the tank is completely cycled before you add them to the tank or you may lose them.

Edit: I guess I dont' type fast enough to beat tttnjfttt to the punch.

 

[beercan]

Thanks, due to it being a small tank so less room for error, I do intend on getting this right before I put him in...

I have sand in my big tank I could put in. I wouldn't need much as it's only a ten gallon, so I assume I could create the permanent sand base from this existing sand, then replace what I've taken from the big tank...

 

[tttnjfttt]

There you go...Sounds like you've got this problem solved

 

[beercan]

Job done. The shop have to order him in for me, so I guess running the ank for a week will be long enough for it to settle before I put him in?

 

[tttnjfttt]

You will still need to run through a fishless cycle. Adding the sand from your established tank will help seed the bacteria, but you need to get it to grow enough to handle the entire bio-load. There is an article pinned in the beginners section on how to do a fishless cycle, and we can definately help you work through the details. This is very important to do, espeically since the puffers are very sensitive to bad water.

 

[alabaster]

Just because you have added some substrate from an established tank doesn't mean you've cycled the tank...

You still need to do a fishless cycle until your ammonia and nitrites are 0 ppm. Have you tested your water at all? If so, please post your results.

 

[rdd1952]

As stated, you need to add ammonia and fully cycle the tank. The substrate holds some bacteria but not nearly as much as the filter media. Add ammonia and cycle while your waiting on the fish to come in. Hopefully, it won't take more than a week or 2 to cycle.

 

[beercan]

Yeah as per my original post, I had expected to have to cycle, so I'm going to start that today.

Thanks.