New Tank! Cycling Question

[BrookeLea]

I've got some cool news. So, I'm moving from Savannah, GA, where I've lived for the past three years, back to New Orleans, LA (where I'm originally from). I graduated from college this weekend, so my mom is in town and helping me move and stuff. I've been a bit anxious about moving my livebearers and their 29 gallon tank, but yesterday over lunch, my mom had a brilliant idea. (Well, I sort of helped.) The conversation went like this:

me: "I don't know how I'm going to fit that tank in my car..."
mom: "Well, why don't you just take the fish, and then I'll buy you a new tank to put them in when we get there"
me: "Well...that's a good idea, but it's not at the same time...because if I get another tank, I want a 55 gallon, not another 29 gallon, and 55 gallon tanks are too expensive"
mom: "How much?"
me: "At WalMart, there's a 55 gallon for about $150 and a stand for about $80...then there are the rocks that you have to add and the plants and decor and all that...so I'd say by the time it's all said and done, around $300"
mom: "Ok, that's not expensive"
me: "o...k..."

SO, it looks like I'll be getting my 55 gallon sooner than I expected to!

Here's a question, though... What about cycling the new tank?

I'm transporting my fish in one gallon bags filled 1/3 of the way with water from their existing tank. The fish and their live plants will probably be split between 8 or 10 bags, so that's a little more or a little less than 3 gallons of water that I'll have from their existing tank. I could also jug a few more gallons in regular plastic gallon jugs. If I put this water into their new tank and fill it the rest of the way with new, treated water, will their new tank be cycled enough? I haven't read about this anywhere, it's just the solution that I came up with in my head, so I'm not sure if it works or if it's common or if it's a bad idea. Someone please let me know!

Thanks!

 

[wrs]

take the old filter. Keep it in dechlorinated water, the cartidge and all that stuff. Then when you get the new tank, run the filter in the new tank, and then put the old cartirdge in the new filter. Also, take the gravel, and add that on top.

Instant cycle. Or maybe 1 hour cycle as the tank is bigger.

 

[GSD]

i think this would be better in the beginners section lol

 

[cudaman68]

Yes the filter and gravel is what you want that is what contains the bacteria that will cycle you new tank. Make sure that the new water you add to your 55 gal dechlorinated before you put the old gravel and filter in.

 

[mlee0332]

It would also help [i know this sounds crazy] but if you had as much original water that you could get {like put it in jars and stuff} the cycle will go faster as well and the shock of changing water completely wouldn't be as great!

But if you can't do that as well, the filters and stuff would work too. Just remember to keep the filter cartridges and parts (intake, impeller etc) in water. If you don't, you'll lose your cycle...

(Also bio-spira will help)

Is your 29g from walmart as well? If so then the filter's cartridges from the original one that came with it will fit in the one in the 55g.

(When your mom buys the tank, make sure you purchase a 30/60 filter b/c the one that comes with it is WAY under the required amount of filtration. (they send you a filter for a 20-40 gallon tank!))