how do you do that? Im not really sure. i know that you can switch substrate, but my brother doesnt want to use any old sand and get poop in his new tank. he actually doesnt even want to cycle it. he thinks im stupid for tellin him that you can cycle using all the old stuff in like a day, but he just doesnt believe me.
how to cycle using old filter etc.
- Thread starter wrs
- Start date
Aquascaper
Fish Aficionado
When I set up my 56g I took some filter medium from my 30g's filter and put it in the new filter along with the new medium. I also squeezed the old filter pads into the new tank by the filter intake so that all the crap from the old filter was sucked into the new filter.
My 56g cycled fully and was stable within 7 days
HTH
My 56g cycled fully and was stable within 7 days
HTH
Hi wrs
A cycled tank is one that has the bacteria to convert ammonia, which the fish produce, first to nitrite and then to the more harmless nitrates. As long as these bacteria are in the tank, it doesn't matter how they get there.
One way to get them is to let nature take its course and let them develop from the wastes the fish make. This is slow and can be harmful to the fish if it is not monitored and controlled by very frequent water changes.
The other way is to just pick them up and put them in there. This is what you are trying to tell your brother. Now, these beneficial bacteria are clinging to all the surfaces of the tank. They are living in the top 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the gravel, in the filter media, and on the plants, decorations and glass too. There are also a small amount in the water, but not very many. (Just adding used tank water will not be adequate, although people used to think it was.)
Most of the bacteria live in the gravel and filter, since this is where the food they eat tend to end up, so moving these things into a new tank will result in an instant "cycle." They might not be adequate to support a full load of fish right away, but the more bacteria you put in, the more fish you can safely add. They will spread and reproduce as necessary. You will, in effect, be making a clone of the original tank.
If you use gravel from the old tank, vacuum it very well and spread it on top of the new gravel. Any dirt left on it will settle or be filtered out quickly. To use the filter, simply set up the old filter and run it in the new tank, or take the floss, insert or sponge out and put it in the new filter. As it runs, the bacteria will spread into the gravel and grow on the other surfaces too.
If he doesn't want to use the same kind of gravel, you can vacuum it well and put some of it into a new nylon stocking. Women's knee-high or ankle length ones work well because they can be filled and a knot tied in them. Then just lay it on top of the new gravel. After a week or two you can remove them and replace the gravel in the old tank. This is not as efficient as putting the old gravel right on top of the new, but it will work.
If you set up the new filter on the old tank and the old filter on the new tank, the bacteria from it will spread nicely without upsetting your original tank. Then, in a few weeks, you can just switch them around if you would like.
However you do it, I suggest adding fish a few at a time to be sure that the bacteria has a chance to catch up to the bio-load.
Good luck trying to explain this to your brother.
A cycled tank is one that has the bacteria to convert ammonia, which the fish produce, first to nitrite and then to the more harmless nitrates. As long as these bacteria are in the tank, it doesn't matter how they get there.
One way to get them is to let nature take its course and let them develop from the wastes the fish make. This is slow and can be harmful to the fish if it is not monitored and controlled by very frequent water changes.
The other way is to just pick them up and put them in there. This is what you are trying to tell your brother. Now, these beneficial bacteria are clinging to all the surfaces of the tank. They are living in the top 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the gravel, in the filter media, and on the plants, decorations and glass too. There are also a small amount in the water, but not very many. (Just adding used tank water will not be adequate, although people used to think it was.)
Most of the bacteria live in the gravel and filter, since this is where the food they eat tend to end up, so moving these things into a new tank will result in an instant "cycle." They might not be adequate to support a full load of fish right away, but the more bacteria you put in, the more fish you can safely add. They will spread and reproduce as necessary. You will, in effect, be making a clone of the original tank.
If you use gravel from the old tank, vacuum it very well and spread it on top of the new gravel. Any dirt left on it will settle or be filtered out quickly. To use the filter, simply set up the old filter and run it in the new tank, or take the floss, insert or sponge out and put it in the new filter. As it runs, the bacteria will spread into the gravel and grow on the other surfaces too.
If he doesn't want to use the same kind of gravel, you can vacuum it well and put some of it into a new nylon stocking. Women's knee-high or ankle length ones work well because they can be filled and a knot tied in them. Then just lay it on top of the new gravel. After a week or two you can remove them and replace the gravel in the old tank. This is not as efficient as putting the old gravel right on top of the new, but it will work.
If you set up the new filter on the old tank and the old filter on the new tank, the bacteria from it will spread nicely without upsetting your original tank. Then, in a few weeks, you can just switch them around if you would like.
However you do it, I suggest adding fish a few at a time to be sure that the bacteria has a chance to catch up to the bio-load.
Good luck trying to explain this to your brother.
thanks for the info. the new tank will also be sand, but the tank is a diffrent size then the one hes getting. i would prefer the instant cycle, so that he can move a few of his fish into the tank. i want him to put the gouramsi in there for now, untill we get the cichlids, which will be in 2 or so weeks, because the ones we want need very good water conditions. I hope he listens to what yall said, lol.
This is one of the reason why I try to stick to the same power filter in most of my tanks so that I can freely switch the medium when I am re-seting the tank from scratch. Just pop one from the old tank, and put it in the new tank, and you have instantly cycled tank (with fishes in the tank of course).
In some cases, the filters are not the same, so I take the old and the new sponge, smear them for few minutes and put them back in their respective places - that seems to work pretty well as well.
Lastly, I also cycled one tank by taking a mature sponge and washed it in the new tank water! Although it cycled near instantly, man does it produce alot of mess in that tank! I will never cycle it this way again!
(But it worked! I put 8 fishes in one shot, and I never saw any ammonia).
In some cases, the filters are not the same, so I take the old and the new sponge, smear them for few minutes and put them back in their respective places - that seems to work pretty well as well.
Lastly, I also cycled one tank by taking a mature sponge and washed it in the new tank water! Although it cycled near instantly, man does it produce alot of mess in that tank! I will never cycle it this way again!
(But it worked! I put 8 fishes in one shot, and I never saw any ammonia).Hi wrs
Sand is a good choice for substrate.
And you have the right idea about putting a few fish in to sustain the beneficial bacteria too.
Gouramis are a good choice to begin the tank with, especially if you start it the way you plan to. I cycled my current tanks with pearl gouramis and they outlasted all the other fish and had long and healthy lives afterward.
However you cycle, do be sure to use test kits, or at least have the water tested at the lfs to be sure it's OK before you add any sensitive fish. It's always best to be on the safe side.
Sand is a good choice for substrate.
And you have the right idea about putting a few fish in to sustain the beneficial bacteria too.Gouramis are a good choice to begin the tank with, especially if you start it the way you plan to. I cycled my current tanks with pearl gouramis and they outlasted all the other fish and had long and healthy lives afterward.
However you cycle, do be sure to use test kits, or at least have the water tested at the lfs to be sure it's OK before you add any sensitive fish. It's always best to be on the safe side.
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