Cycling Yes Or No

[newhobby4me]

Ok so I've had a 10 gallon tank for 2 yrs now 4 glass cats 3skirted pink tetras with no fatalities in those two years and recently added a pleco due to an algae bloom . I just received a 30 gallon tank which leads me to my question. If I use the filter from the 10g with all decorations and the gravel from the 10g along with tetra safe start will i have an instant cycle? any help would be appreciated. thanks

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You probably don't need the SafeStart. If you move everything what bacteria might be left behind is only on the glass. Feed the fish before you move them and then not for a day or so after. You will move enough of your bacteria that any shortfall should be met in a day at most.

 

[newhobby4me]

First off thanks for replying. so i shouldn't have to worry about any loss of my little friends? would it harm anything to use the safe start? I heard some where it might help in case of a mini cycle

 

[CezzaXV]

Am I right in thinking you want to transfer everything over to the new tank? In that case, you shouldn't have any problems, though you might want to check that the old filter is still powerful enough for the bigger tank.

No harm in using the SafeStart, though most people here are doubtful as to whether such products have any effect at all.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The odds are good that SafeStart will help, assuming is has not been subjected to improper conditions. But it is most likely not needed. If you are in the states, I would suggest DrTim's One and Only ahead of Safe Start.
 
The odds of your getting a mini-spike of any size or duration is virtually nil. Bear in mind that
 

The minimum doubling time of AOB is 7-8 hours while the minimum doubling time of NOB is 10-13 hours (Philips et al. 2002).

From http/nitrification.org/#energetics
 
But to double, there would need to be a deficit of about 50% of the needed bacteria and a decent surplus of ammonia to enable that sort of growth rate. In your situation you may be short 5-10% of the needed bacteria and the ammonia surplus will be too small for you to have time to measure it most likely. Your bacteria will fill any shortage very fast.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

TTA,
 
I do enjoy reading all the things that you link to!