Cycling With Old Tank Waste Water

[Queen Bee]

I have been having a hard time getting my ammonia levels to lower in my first tank. I am doing 50% water changes twice a day and this has been on going for a week now.

I am over stocked to begin with for cycling a tank. Right now I am running a 10 G tank with 5 guppies ( One of which is pregnant), 2 red coral platty, a 1 large snail.

I have bought a new 29 G tank and this is what I was thinking:

1. If my ammonia levels are at 1 in the sm tank, can I use the water I remove from it to fill the new tank and get it cycled? It will be running filter, heater, and air. Of course, I can only hook up the air until I can get enough water in the tank to cover the underwater filter motor and the heater.

2. Should I move over some of the fish from the sm tank to the larger one, so cycling will be easier with less fish in both tanks? I do want to keep the smaller one for female guppies, and the larger one for male guppies & platty.

3. Should I move some of the gravel from the sm tank to the large one as there might be some bacteria growing there which will help me cycle the large tank faster?

4. I am currently running a hydro sponge filter on my airstone in the sm tank. I plan on moving that to the larger tank. Again the bacteria should help me cycle better. Is that going to work, or will it kill the bacteria when it hits the air while moving it?

Would appreciate any help, as I don't want 2 tanks with high ammonia problems. I also don't want to be doing 50% water changes on 2 tanks twice a day. A girl needs some time for herself.

 

[tangokitty]

Do you have any friends that could give you some mature filter media to add to the tank? I'm really not sure what filter you have, but I would recommend at least a Hang on the back type at least for the larger one.

 

[LauraFrog]

Very few filter bacteria live in the water, so by moving water all you'd really be doing is adding ammonia to the new tank. If you can't get filter media, try using a live bacteria product. Apparently biospira is the good one in the US. In Australia it's Eco-start. They can be quite expensive and they don't last forever but they do work, if you can get a good one.

 

[Queen Bee]

I saw the eco-start at one of the LFS. I was hesitant to pick it up because of so many people saying that the cycle was a waste of money and really did nothing. Didn't want to throw more money away. Will give it a try though.

I just thought that adding water that had ammonia in it would be like adding tap water and then putting in ammonia to cycle. The other would be easier though.

The filter I have is a hang on the back, but the pump that drives the filter is underneath in the water. It is an Aqueon. It has the pouch of active carbon and lots of grates inside for the water to run through. No one I know to get filter drippings from. No one I would trust anyways.

 

[Mauricia]

If I were you I would probably put the fish in the 29 gallon, because it would be safer for them to have their waste more diluted and easier for you to stay on top of water changes, and the 10 gallon is overstocked anyway for an uncycled tank. You could then run a fishless cycle on the 10 gallon and move somefish back to there, and see where the 29 gallon is at that point.

 

[Queen Bee]

That is a good idea to move the fish over. I was thinking about leaving the one female guppy in the 10 gallon. The 4 males chase her around and another $30 for a temporary divider ( I have one in the 10 G already, but it won't fit the 29).

I think I will do that. Thanks

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, there isn't enough bacteria in the water to matter. There is a minute amount but it's probably about the same from your tap so adding he old water really doesn't acomplish anything.

The problem you have is that the small tank isn't cycled. An ammonia level is 1 ppm is a problem so you should be doing water changes as needed to get the ammonia (and subsequent nitrite) below .25 ppm. Moving some of the fish to the larger tankwould definitely help as the amount of waste would be spread over a larger volume of water thus diluting it more. That will mean that you are haing to do WCs on 2 tanks instead of 1 though.

Most of the bacteria starters are useless and a waste of money. I'm not familiar with Eco-Start but if it isn't refrigerated, it's most likely no good. Since you are in Ontario, you should be able to find Bio-Spira. I personally have never used it but have heard good things about itworking.

 

[OldMan47]

A simple solution that should work is to move the mature filter and all the fish to the 29. The fish will not be as crowded and the filter is already cycled and supporting what is in the 10. The new tank and filter with the old filter would then begin to mature the new filter and meanwhile it should not cause the fish any distress, not even a mini-cycle. When the new filter can take over for the old one from the 10 gallon, you could put the old one back on the 10 and it would be ready for fish that would fit it.

 

[rdd1952]

She still has ammonia in the 10 gallon though so it isn't cycled either. Moving all to the 29 gallon tank though would still dilute the ammonia of ammonia and cut it by about 30% as the same amount of waste is distributed over almost 3 times as much water.

 

[Queen Bee]

Been reading all your replies. So now I have the 29 set up. Filter running, I also put in the air sponge filter from the 10 in the 29. Just did a reading on the 10, and Ammonia is at .25 - .50. (Hard to discern the exact as the colours on the chart are so close together). Did a water change on the 10 and I am letting the 29 sit for now. Moved some of the gravel from the 10 to the 29 as well.

Tomorrow I will move the old filter and put it on the 29 to run both for a while and get the fish moved over. Lost a guppy last night. Thought she was finally having her fry, but unfortunately she did not make it. That means there will be 2 red coral platy and 4 guppies in the 29.

Got to go back to work now, or I would move them now.

Thanks for all your advice. We shall see how this works. Should be better as I have less fish per gallon and cycling it should be easier.