New Tank Seasoned Media Start - Help Plz

[manofish123]

Doing a fish-out cycling process on a relatively small tank. Eventually I will get a larger one and want to go with some
donated seasoned media to help get the tank cycled faster.
Having never done it and reading it works and is fast, can someone tell me exactly what form of seasoned media is acceptable and works best ? Is a handfull of gravel enough ? Or a good conditioned intake sponge ? If there is a topic somewhere that
explains this method of cycling I'd appreciate a link.
Thanks in advance ..........

 

[Aqua Tom]

Doing a fish-out cycling process on a relatively small tank. Eventually I will get a larger one and want to go with some
donated seasoned media to help get the tank cycled faster.
Having never done it and reading it works and is fast, can someone tell me exactly what form of seasoned media is acceptable and works best ? Is a handfull of gravel enough ? Or a good conditioned intake sponge ? If there is a topic somewhere that
explains this method of cycling I'd appreciate a link.
Thanks in advance ..........

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/



Tom

 

[PrairieSunflower]

The more the better, really. If you can get your new filter media and have it spend a few weeks wedged in someone's cycled tank that helps really well, and every other bit you can add is a bonus, gravel, water, etc.

 

[manofish123]

The more the better, really. If you can get your new filter media and have it spend a few weeks wedged in someone's cycled tank that helps really well, and every other bit you can add is a bonus, gravel, water, etc.

Thank ya .... that helps.

 

[Ruskull]

What size tank are you trying to cycle and what size donor tank are you getting the media from?

You can take a filter cartridge out of a tank that's currently running, cut off the felt part & put it into your filter. The nasty looking brownish stuff worked best for me. In fact I instantly cycled my 10 gallon hospital tank using media from my 36 gallon and one of my 20's. I always keep a little bit floating in each filter just for that purpose.

VERY IMPORTANT!

You can't just add the media & not have a source of ammonia or the beneficial bacteria will not survive. Some people use a couple of hardy fish while others use fish food or they dose the tank with ammonia. If you're new to this hobby it's probably best to use a couple of fish as your source of ammonia. The fish will be fine as long as you're willing to do large water changes and you test regularly.

I believe the donor tank can give up to 1/3 of it's bacteria without a problem so get as much as you can without hurting the donor tank. Your tank should also be heated. It's also important that you put the donated media into the tank as quickly as you can because the bacteria dies off the longer you wait.

 

[manofish123]

What size tank are you trying to cycle and what size donor tank are you getting the media from?

You can take a filter cartridge out of a tank that's currently running, cut off the felt part & put it into your filter. The nasty looking brownish stuff worked best for me. In fact I instantly cycled my 10 gallon hospital tank using media from my 36 gallon and one of my 20's. I always keep a little bit floating in each filter just for that purpose.

VERY IMPORTANT!

You can't just add the media & not have a source of ammonia or the beneficial bacteria will not survive. Some people use a couple of hardy fish while others use fish food or they dose the tank with ammonia. If you're new to this hobby it's probably best to use a couple of fish as your source of ammonia. The fish will be fine as long as you're willing to do large water changes and you test regularly.

I believe the donor tank can give up to 1/3 of it's bacteria without a problem so get as much as you can without hurting the donor tank. Your tank should also be heated. It's also important that you put the donated media into the tank as quickly as you can because the bacteria dies off the longer you wait.

Its will probably be a 12 gallon Edge. As I mentioned I'm starting a small 6 Edge with the nofish add and wait method just
to get my wings and learn all I can. Once its up and cycled with some success, I plan on getting the bigger tank. Just trying
to get some research and suggestions done before I jump into that procedure. Maybe I can talk a local shop out of some of theirs as I know nobody with a donar tank. Thanks for your input and help. I'm sure I'll need more as time goes along.

 

[Ruskull]

With a 12 gallon tank a "large water change" amounts to a single 5 gallon bucket! You should do just fine with some donor media & a couple of small fish. Then when your testing comes up with zero for ammonia & nitrite, you can add another fish or two. That's how I did it with one of my 20 gallon tanks.

Good luck & post your progress. Even if no one responds, you can check back to see your progress and test results.