New Tank

[ratamacue]

My first post! I got another new tank 20 gal.. I put the filter in my 55 gal. established tank. How long do I let it run in the old tank til it becomes an established filter? So I can set my new tank up then will it be a cycled tank?

 

[MartinD]

My first post! I got another new tank 20 gal.. I put the filter in my 55 gal. established tank. How long do I let it run in the old tank til it becomes an established filter? So I can set my new tank up then will it be a cycled tank?

Hi and welcome

The best idea is to remove some of the filter media from your 55gal and add it to the new filter. Have it running in tandem with the original filter for a day or two and them move it to the new tank. The new tank will be immediately cycled but you will have to add fish at the same time. No fish = no food for the bacteria on your filter and they'll just die off.

Go easy on feeding for the first week in both tanks until the bacteria colonies get back to size.

HTH

 

[ratamacue]

thanks for the fast reply I added the new filter to my old tank a week ago is it ready?

 

[MartinD]

thanks for the fast reply I added the new filter to my old tank a week ago is it ready?

Yep. Has the new tank been running at all? Water temperature etc up to the correct level?
If so, get the filter in and add fish immediately

 

[ratamacue]

So 1 week is long enough. How about 2 days?

 

[MartinD]

So 1 week is long enough. How about 2 days?

It all depends. I'm no expert but I did it this way too.

If you have mature filter media from another tank you can add it to a new tank straight away as long as the temperature etc is right
for the fish you want to keep. You should add the fish at the same time as the filter media. Basically, it's then a fully cycled tank with mature
filter media already in place.

I started my 120g tank the same way. Took filter media from my 3ft tank and added it to my 120g once the water temperature was correct. I'd added the sand substrate and rocks etc a couple of days previously and run filters in it just to clear up the water's cloudiness. Once it had settled, in went the filter media and in went the fish

 

[ratamacue]

I understand that,Thank you. But I don't want to remove media from My mature filter.

 

[MartinD]

I understand that,Thank you. But I don't want to remove media from My mature filter.

It will cause no harm to your existing tank provided you're careful when it comes to feeding time. Too much food that isn't eaten will just decay and overpower
the existing bacteria causing your levels to go up.

Best bet, if you don't want to touch your existing filter, is to add the new filter and run it for a while in the existing tank. Then use it in the new tank but the rules still apply - be careful with the feeding for the first 4-5 days

 

[ratamacue]

Thank you! How long is a while?

 

[MartinD]

Thank you! How long is a while?

Give it a week to be safe