Quick Question

[5teady_2012]

Hi,

I have just setup a new 3ft tank and at one side there is a big sponge filter, and the other side i have done undergravel trap (1ft long) with powerhead on.

I have covered it all with gravel and was wondering if i vacume my matured undergravel and added the dirt from it to the new 3ft tank, would i be able to add fish straight away if i do daily waterchanges and keep adding a bit more dirt from matured every other day?

Thanks in advanced.

Wayne

 

[5teady_2012]

BUMP***
Anyone?

 

[5teady_2012]

Thanks for all tghe replys, you have all been most helpful

 

[pastabake]

I think it would speed up the process but the only way of telling is to do the tests and check the results.

What might be a better idea though is to take some of your gravel from the mature tank.

 

[tetra head]

i moved some of my gravel from my smaller tank to my large tank and all seems ok. bottom feeders seem to appreciate it.

 

[MermaidMel]

You are better off using mature media from the other tank, not the dirt you would ordinarily be wanting to chuck out

 

[5teady_2012]

There is no filter media as it is undergravel, the gravel i thought would be less effective than the actual dirt cos i persumed it was the all the dirt that contained the bacteria.

 

[MermaidMel]

There is no filter media as it is undergravel, the gravel i thought would be less effective than the actual dirt cos i persumed it was the all the dirt that contained the bacteria.

But you said you have a large sponge filter on one side of the tank, that would process everything at once

 

[5teady_2012]

There is no filter media as it is undergravel, the gravel i thought would be less effective than the actual dirt cos i persumed it was the all the dirt that contained the bacteria.

But you said you have a large sponge filter on one side of the tank, that would process everything at once

The sponge filter is in the new tank, so thats not matured.

 

[Colin_T]

thanks for all the replies. hmm doesn't look like there are any.

You would be better off moving some of the old gravel into the new tank to speed the filter cycle process up. The gunk won't make much difference.

If you want to do water changes every day you don't have to worry about cycling the tank, just stick some fish in and monitor the water. Do your daily partial water changes and keep the feeding down and the tank will cycle in a month or so.

 

[MermaidMel]

There is no filter media as it is undergravel, the gravel i thought would be less effective than the actual dirt cos i persumed it was the all the dirt that contained the bacteria.

But you said you have a large sponge filter on one side of the tank, that would process everything at once

The sponge filter is in the new tank, so thats not matured.

LOL I knooooow, I was saying, can you put some mature media WITH the sponge filter to kick start the cycle

 

[5teady_2012]

I guess i could take some out of my internal one in one of my other tanks and tuck it inside the new.

Maybe if i do that and add some of my undergravel dirt as well and do daily changes until the tank has matured cos i need to house 6 bettas in the new 3ft tank and there is no other option

thanks for all the replies. hmm doesn't look like there are any.

You would be better off moving some of the old gravel into the new tank to speed the filter cycle process up. The gunk won't make much difference.

If you want to do water changes every day you don't have to worry about cycling the tank, just stick some fish in and monitor the water. Do your daily partial water changes and keep the feeding down and the tank will cycle in a month or so.

Just noticed your post col, that was basically what i was asking, if i added the fish and did daily water changes, i was just going to add some of my matured ondergravel dirt to boost it.

I just wanted to make sure this was 100% ok to do, as i dont want the fish to come to any harm, i aint very clued up on this whole cycling business

 

[Colin_T]

the daily water changes will keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down and the old gravel will help speed the filter bacteria develop faster. The gunk can be used but I just prefer to use gravel.

 

[5teady_2012]

okies m8 thanks, also thanks everyone else for the advice