Speeding Up A Cycle

[BethK]

Hi All

I read somewhere that, when changing tanks, you could speed up the process, is this correct? And how would you do it?

Thanks

Beth x

 

[Twinklecaz]

If you put mature media (filter sponge etc) from your old tank to your new one it should (as long as it hasn't been allowed to dry out)speed it up.

In fact, I think if you do it straight away from old tank (as long as it was running with fish in until that moment) then it will be instantly cycled. But you'll have to ask a more experienced member about that to be sure ;0

 

[BethK]

okies, thanks x

 

[MikeO]

This thread may be of some help:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/324255-cloning-filter-media/page__hl__Cloning__fromsearch__1

 

[mattlee]

your current filter is cycled/mature enough for your current stock so using the media in a new filter or putting the whole filter in is fine. just keep an eye on the water for a few days just incase of any mini spikes

 

[BethK]

This thread may be of some help:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/324255-cloning-filter-media/page__hl__Cloning__fromsearch__1

Thanks x

 

[frankie21]

I upgraded from a 60 GAL to A 125 GAL recently. I used a Marineland bio wheel filter setup for 75Gal tank and about 1-2 weeks before I was going to put fish in the 125gal I set it up and started it running. I put a second Marineland filter on the 60 gal even though it was overkill. 2 weeks later I transfered all decorations, gravel and filters over to the 125 gal tank and the fish followed shortly after and everything was perfect. I never measured any ammonia or nitrite levels. i would NOT suggest adding fish because I doubt it would of went so smooth if I did.

 

[waterdrop]

This thread may be of some help:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/324255-cloning-filter-media/page__hl__Cloning__fromsearch__1

Oh, that was fun, I was about to start typing all that out again...

 

[MikeO]

This thread may be of some help:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/324255-cloning-filter-media/page__hl__Cloning__fromsearch__1

Oh, that was fun, I was about to start typing all that out again...

Haha! Good old search function I just happened to remember reading that post. Saves the old typing fingers

 

[BethK]

My fishless cycle is now in progress.

However, being the dappy bird I am, I haven't put in the sand, moss balls etc, as they have not arrived yet.

Can I still carry on with my cycle and then once the media etc has matured from this, remove all the water, set up the sand and replace the water.

Will that still be ok or would I need to recycle?

 

[MikeO]

This will be fine. I started my fishless cycle prior to my sand arriving. I added my sand in about week 4 of my cycle. and I think I was cycled in 7 weeks if I remember right. If anything it helped due to the type of sand I have as it has live culture (well, so they say.....) in the bag. To a certain extent I beleive the substrate will house some beneficial bacteria, but nothing compared to the filter media.

In short, it wont be a problem.

 

[BethK]

Thanks Mike x

 

[BethK]

Ohh another question (sorry ).

My tank is second hand and the person I got it from has used it for a good 8 - 9 months. I cleaned out the filter (which was horrid to say the least ), cleaned the tank, filled the tank up with fresh water, de-chlorinated it and add cycle to it. I mainly wanted to run it like this to clear the filter out, which I think it has done now.

I can't test the levels yet, until my kit shows up this week.

What else should I do? Sorry to sound dumb but I think I am confusing myself at the moment, after reading tones of stuff on cycling

Should I add my plants from my now tank, or a plant, to help it on it's way?

 

[MikeO]

As far as I know you shouldnt add plants until after your cycle.

If you dont have your test kit yet then you probably shouldnt start the cycle, as you have no way of telling now much ammonia you are adding. The calculator is good for a guide, but itsnt always 100% (for my tank the recommended amount took my ammonia to 8ppm which is way too high).

I would suggest you just wait for your kit to arrive so you can test your water from the tap, as you need this is a base reading, then so you can test daily and test once you have added ammonia to see how much you need to get it to 5ppm.

 

[waterdrop]

The amount of ammonia at the beginning of a cycle is not critical, so you could just halve the amount of ammonia suggested by the ammonia calculator and get a little in there. Why waste a day?

Hi Beth and welcome to fishless cycling! Its a really helpful long term thing to start an "aquarium notebook," just a plain old spiral notebook of some sort where you can log a diary of your daily tank activities and have them even if things went wrong with all these electronic things we have. Its especially helpful to mirror the line by line daily entries you'll want to post here but to add details that seem obvious at the time (this or that fish was introduced, this or that mistake was made etc.) Its amazing how useful this is later.

What media did you add to the filter?

~~waterdrop~~