Cycling Question

[Realtree]

I am about to start cycling a 40L tank.
My main tank (which is mature) has two filter pads - if I use one of these to seed my new tank will there be any detremental effect on my main tank if I replace the pad with a new one - so it has one established and one not ??
Haven't done a fishless cycle before so apologies if a dumd question
cheers Mark

 

[rabbut]

Ideally, you don't want to take more than 1/3 of your existing media, as half may well upset the main tank by causing a mini-cycle, unless you realy well manage the tank after with reduced feedings, some water changes and close monitoring of your tank stats You may get away with it, but it isn't advisable

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Realtree]

Thanx for the advice
So if I used half of one sponge things would be ok ??
Also how much quicker on average does the mature filter media make to the cycle ??
Another dumb question is - do I just submerge the mature sponge in the new tank or do I somehow put it in/on my new filter ??
cheers again
Mark

 

[alchemist]

It would be easier to run your new filter alongside your old filter inside the old tank for a month and then move it to the new tank.

 

[Realtree]

It would be easier to run your new filter alongside your old filter inside the old tank for a month and then move it to the new tank.

Sorry to be dumb - but would this immediately cycle the new tank when I put filter in it ??
was also thinking of initially filling new tank with 50% - 75% of water from established tank
cheers
Mark

 

[rabbut]

Well, you need to mature sponge to be inside the filter for it to work. Adverage speed increase depends on how much media you move across and how heavily stocked your donor tank is. As with running filters along-side each other, you may be instantly cycled with the filter clone, or it may be a couple of weeks before you get that far On average you'll save arround 3 weeks cycle time though Running filters along side can work as well also though.

"Mature water" is useless. In fact, it's worse than that Fish take up nutrients from the water, and excreate toxins and hormones, so the old water has nothing you want to keep, may be loaded with stuff you don't want and may also be lacking a few things you do want. It would be far better (IMO) to use all fresh tap water for your initial and subsiquent fills

HTH
Rabbut

 

[OldMan47]

If you have run a filter on an established tank long enough, it becomes a percentage of the filter on that tank and is fully cycled. When it is removed, it stays fully cycled in the new tank but can only handle a percentage of the biological load in the old tank. I have a couple of filters always running on some of my larger tanks so that in an emergency I can just steal one and use it in a new tank. After about a month I figure that the filter is ready for use. On the other hand, if I know that I am about to buy some fish for a new tank, I will set up a filter in the new tank and clean an old filter in the tank's water. That seeds the new filter and a fishless cycle in that tank is usually finished within a week. Even if it failed though, that spare cycled filter would still be available when the fish arrive home. Your approach should be guided by the time available and the reason that you are trying to establish a cycled filter. Some of mine are really for emergency situations while others are in anticipation of actually needing them. When I actually need a new filter, I focus on seeding a new filter rather than waiting a month in hopes that the filter will cycle itself on an occupied tank. The emergency filters may sit for 6 months before I call on them to respond and by then I can be certain that they are ready no matter how slowly things went.

 

[Realtree]

If you have run a filter on an established tank long enough, it becomes a percentage of the filter on that tank and is fully cycled. When it is removed, it stays fully cycled in the new tank but can only handle a percentage of the biological load in the old tank. I have a couple of filters always running on some of my larger tanks so that in an emergency I can just steal one and use it in a new tank. After about a month I figure that the filter is ready for use. On the other hand, if I know that I am about to buy some fish for a new tank, I will set up a filter in the new tank and clean an old filter in the tank's water. That seeds the new filter and a fishless cycle in that tank is usually finished within a week. Even if it failed though, that spare cycled filter would still be available when the fish arrive home. Your approach should be guided by the time available and the reason that you are trying to establish a cycled filter. Some of mine are really for emergency situations while others are in anticipation of actually needing them. When I actually need a new filter, I focus on seeding a new filter rather than waiting a month in hopes that the filter will cycle itself on an occupied tank. The emergency filters may sit for 6 months before I call on them to respond and by then I can be certain that they are ready no matter how slowly things went.

Thankyou for the advice really well worded and certainly makes sense