Seeding Bacteria Between Tanks

[Schmill]

At the moment my 60L tank has an internal canister type filter which contains a course foam, a charcoal foam, a fine foam, and what I think are ceramic tubes (the bio bit anyway!). It's an Interpet PF2.

I'm about to start cycling my new 300L tank, and was wondering if I will gain anything by seeding it from my 60L tank? If so how?
The 60L tank has my fish in it at the moment, and the ceramic bio-bits are sealed into the filter in that tank so can't be transferred. What I can do is remove the course, (and maybe the fine), filter foams from the 60L internal canister and put those in the new tank.

Question is;

A) Is it worth it? Is there going to be a sufficient amount of bacteria on the sponges to make it worthwhile doing?

B) Where do I put the sponges if I do transfer them over to the new tank?
I could just float them in the tank, but I'm not sure how effective that would be at getting the bacteria into the new filter.
The new tank's filter is an Aquis 1200 by Aqua One, which is a sealed presurised upflow filter design. There is a possibility I could place my sponges from the 60L tank into the bottom of this filter (where the dirty water goes before filtering up through the various layers of filter media), which I think would be the best method for persuding the bacteria to transfer.

Mainly just wondering what peoples impressions are, A) is it worth it, and do I have the right idea with B) ?

As a final note I will be also using API's Stress Zyme, as I know people here slate it, but I have a bottle of it already, and my first tank really did seem to cycle quicker than usual when I used it. Not neccasarily on the Ammonia processing bacteria, but the Nitrite bacteria seemed to happen very soon after the ammonia, rather than the longer duration that most people seem to report.
Either way I shall keep a long and try to keep an up-to-date thread on here of the progress of the cycle too so that people can judge for themselves, (although I guess the bacteria seeding from the old tank may sway the results slightly anyway... ?)

 

[loachman]

It's worth it to speed up cycling. Only time it is not is if the old tank has known pathogens in it.

Easiest way is to take the current filter media and rub it on the new media, or transfer some of the old media over. You can also cut a piece of the old filter and put it into the new filter. Exactly how you do it depends on the exact models and geometry.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I'd definitely say it's worth doing.

I cycled my 190L by adding the mature internal filter from my 60L tank. I am going to keep both filters running alongside each other for a couple of months whilst the bacteria grow in my external canister filter.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Are you planning to keep the 60L running or close it down?

If the 300L is replacing the 60L, it is a simple case of moving all livestock and all filters from the 60L to the 300L, add more water to fill up the rest of the 300L and Bob's your uncle!

If you are planning to keep the 60L running in addition to the 300L, the best way is to take around 1/3 of the media from the filter of the 60L and swap it with the same amount of new media from the 300L. This will give the filter on the 300L an immediate seeding and it will immediately be able to support 1/3 of the waste which is created in the 60L (approx 1/3 of the fish).

If you post up which is your intention, i can go into more detail if you wish.

Hope this helps.

BTT

 

[Schmill]

Hi & thanks.

It is the intention to keep the 60L tank running... ish...

It was my plan to keep the 60L running whilst I fishless-cycled the 300L tank. then I would transfer the fish over. However my wife has now said that she would like the 60L tank upstairs once we have moved it's current inhabitants from it into the 300L tank.
I think I am going to have to completely strip the 60L tank at some point though, otherwise I won't be able to get it up the stairs! - lol

 

[backtotropical]

To be honest, if you are going to completely strip the 60L at some point, may as well do it now. That way it makes the transfer to the 300L so much easier.

Just take all the fish and all the water from the 60L into the 300L and move over any filters you have running too (it is important to move the filters at the same time as the fish to keep the bacteria alive). Fill up the rest of the 300L with fresh water (dechlorinated and temp matched of course) and the transfer is complete. Keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite levels for a week or so to be safe but you shouldn't have any problems.

You then have a stripped 60L to do with as you wish. When you want to set up the 60L again, simply fill it up, take approx 1/3 of the mature filter media from the 300L and move it to the 60L and stock the 60L immediately (again important to add the fish at the same time as the mature media). Bingo! Instantly cycled 60L. Again monitor ammonia and nitrite in both tanks this time for around 1 week, but i foresee no problems.

If you have any more questions, just ask. Good luck!

BTT