Setting up New Filter for tank

[Barday]

Hi all,

I recently bought a new tank, and I am preparing to set it up. I was wondering the best way to do it......

For the filter (Fluval plus - new is a 3, old is a 2) I was going to put a poly filter in the old one for a few days and then put it in the new one once I set up the tank. But then I thought Hey - why dont I just put my new filter in my current tank so it works with my old one. Is over filtration a problem?

For the water - i was going to put half of the water from my current tank into the new one.

For gravel bacteria I was going to take out a couple of rocks from the old and put it into the new.

Is there anything I haven't thought of / anything that wont work? to enable me to skip the cycling process?

Thanks

 

[kev_kb]

Running two filters in your tank will be fine, not sure how long you would have to leave it in there though. Using water from your established tank isn't worth doing as the bacteria is surface mounted and you'll only transfer a very small number if any.

 

[Aquascaper]

Run the new filter in your existing tank for approx. 2 weeks (the longer the better). Try and position it so that the old filter flows water past the new filter (that way the bacteria will seed quicker). Another tip is to take out the pad from the old filter and squeeze it beside the new filter so all the crap is sucked in.
Also, adding old tank water will help as it contains trace elements that have built up and may not be present in your tap water, this also helps with heating the new tank as the water will already be warm.
Adding a couple of rocks from the old tank will certainly help and if you can transfer some gravel (if you are having different gravel then put it in a stocking leg and leave in the new tank on-top of the new gravel for 2 weeks).

When I set up my new tank I couldn't run the new filter in one of the existing tanks so just squeezed the old filter pads into the new tank by the intake and my tank cycled within 3 days

HTH

 

[Barday]

2 weeks?? I was hoping to use it on Sunday! I gotta re-think this one!

How about I do the all of the above, (thanks for the stocking suggestion , although I can't use too much gravel because my old tank will still be in use) Set up the tank on Sunday and buy 5 guppies to aid the cycle? I should be able to put in my preds a week later.....right? I'll obviously check the water params before I do.

I've got the filters side by side, does that matter?

 

[bluefire]

i think that you should choose a hardier species that guppies, IME they are not good for cycling. you might want to think about using something like danios.

 

[Barday]

Thanks For the reply,

If possible I wanted to use livebearers for cycling as I will be using them in my old tank after. Will mollies do?