My Cycling Idea

[noshybabs]

I bought a nano 40 yesterday night, Filled it with sand and water, added water treated with Tapsafe, Got it to temp.

I then got one of the sponges out of my other tanks filter and cleaned it out im my new tank.

Now my idea was that the bacteria out of my old tank will then be passed on to the new one

Anyone think this will work? and if so how long would yo leave it before adding Fishy's ?

 

[black angel]

The bacteria is in the sponge not the dirt.
All youve done is dirty the tank.
Could you not have swapped round the sponge with an old one?

 

[noshybabs]

I couldnt because the sponged are different sizes

Surley the bacteria live on/in the dirt?

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you squeezed the old sponge over the new sponge, I think that should have helped, lots of fishkeepers use filter squeezings.

 

[Irf]

I tried this with my 2nd tank when I was starting it....... as black angel says, I then had a non-cycled tank with dirty water.

As far as my experience goes, the quickest way is to actually use a sponge or filter floss from an existing tank. I did this despite the foam being a different shape. I just cut it to the correct shape/size and replaced the original one with a new one. Make sure that you leave some of the sponge in the first tank though....!

Irf.

 

[noshybabs]

"filter floss"

This could work!! it have loades of this for my old tank and its easily cut up!!
thanks guys

 

[noshybabs]

This is my logic behand this,

The bacteria live on the fecies and general debri in tanks right?

One of the resons tank cycling takes so long is because there is none of this in a new tank?

So me cleaning my old filter spong in my tank should surley kick start my new filter because food and bacteria from the old one will be passed to the new one via that water passed accorss?

Please coorrect me if im wrong (im new to this) or am i missing something?

 

[Irf]

I'm not an expert by any means, but this is my understanding......

The bacteria actually live in the filter material - it's just coincidental that this is where you find lots of fish poo. I think what would happen if you did a fish poo transplant is that you'd generate a short term source of ammonia, which is what one of the bacteria types needs to exist. But I think it would be too short term to promote growth in the filter material. And once they start to grow, and thus process the ammonia, they need a constant supply of it. Starving them of ammonia either from fish or artificially added for just a couple of days is (I believe) enough to kill the bacteria.

I did a fishless cycle in my new tank, using ammonia solution. It worked a treat and took just 3 weeks. If you need it quicker than that I think the only truly effective way is to transplant filter media. And of course the only way to know if this is the case is to test the water regularly!

Aren't there some kind souls on here that offer media donations?

Irf.

 

[noshybabs]

Thanks eveyone,

I have decided to go to my local LMF, buy a new media for my old tank, and take scissors to oneof the sponges in there

I have learned so much since i joined here, I feer this may take over my life

 

[Irf]

Sounds like a good plan!

Just to remind you..... don't replace ALL the filter media in your old tank - just part of it. Then when you have the old media running in the new tank, either add a few fish ASAP or keep the bacteria fed with ammonia until you are ready. And test the water regularly for ammonia and nitrites. Both of these should have zero readings when the tank is cycled and any added ammonia is dissipated within about 24hrs.

If anyone else is reading who knows better, please advise if I'm wrong or confirm.

Regards,,

Irf.

 

[noshybabs]

cheers dude,

So just to confirm, add one of the sponges from my old tank and add fish right away? I planned to add a coupled of sword tails and two silver dollar tetra

 

[Irf]

I think that would be OK. No feedback from anyone else worrries me that maybe I'm a raving loony and they can't be bothered! Perhaps wait a day and see if anyone shoots me down, or ask you LFS?

Irf.

 

[noshybabs]

i never trust my LFS, ive had some shocking advice from them in the past. I dont blame them like, Its all about money for them at the end of the day.

 

[Irf]

OK, but then I'd suggest you wait and see if a kind passing expert can offer more certain guidance - I'd hate to be the cause of suffering to your new fish!

Or maybe you could start a new thread?

Also you could look in the post dealing with fishless cycling - much of the explanation I've offered is taken from there, the theory anyway.

Irf.

 

[noshybabs]

From whjat ive read and from what you have said i think i wil be ok, Plus if the fish start lookinf a bit peaky i can put them back in to my main tank.