New Tank And Growing Good Bacteria Question

[Zagggon]

I just got a 55g tank and grabbed a handfull of gravel from my 42g tank and dropped it into the 55g. Im wondering if this will be enough to start/finish the beneficial bacteria growth that is so essential to a tank cycling.

 

[Don155]

Bacteria is on every available surface in an established tank, so yes, its enough to jumpstart the process. However, the more stuff you can transfer, the faster the cycle will go. Grabbing some of your old filter material is probably the best option to speed it up, but gravel works too as well as some plants/decorations.

I would also seed again with some more gravel/filter material after you get a good positive read for Nitrites. The second seed will replace some of the Nitrite bacteria that died off while waiting for the ammonia bacteria to get started after the first seeding.

 

[Zagggon]

Bacteria is on every available surface in an established tank, so yes, its enough to jumpstart the process. However, the more stuff you can transfer, the faster the cycle will go. Grabbing some of your old filter material is probably the best option to speed it up, but gravel works too as well as some plants/decorations.

I would also seed again with some more gravel/filter material after you get a good positive read for Nitrites. The second seed will replace some of the Nitrite bacteria that died off while waiting for the ammonia bacteria to get started after the first seeding.

Wow TYVM for that great response , also im in a bit of a pickle as I have no form of testing the Nitrites/Nitrates OR the PH since it's been awhile since I got a new tank. Do I need to go out and buy that stuff?

 

[fish_fetish65]

Bacteria is on every available surface in an established tank, so yes, its enough to jumpstart the process. However, the more stuff you can transfer, the faster the cycle will go. Grabbing some of your old filter material is probably the best option to speed it up, but gravel works too as well as some plants/decorations.

I would also seed again with some more gravel/filter material after you get a good positive read for Nitrites. The second seed will replace some of the Nitrite bacteria that died off while waiting for the ammonia bacteria to get started after the first seeding.

Wow TYVM for that great response , also im in a bit of a pickle as I have no form of testing the Nitrites/Nitrates OR the PH since it's been awhile since I got a new tank. Do I need to go out and buy that stuff?

sometimes your LFS will test them for you, but yes, ultimately it would be a good idea to go buy them

 

[Zagggon]

okay thanks alot yall +)