Starting A New Tank... Quick Question

[ShinyCard255]

Newbie to the forum and somewhat of a new aquarist.

I am about to start a 60 gallon tank and I am moving all my fish from my 15G to my 60G.

Now here is my question. I want the tank to cycle first before I put my fish in there. What I was planning on doing was 1 of 2 things, or both actually. 1) Taking some of my substrate from my 15G and putting it into a stocking and hanging it in the tank so the bacteria starts forming in the tank. I'm not putting the substrate in because I am using a different substrate in the 60G (pea gravel). 2) On top of having the substrate hang in the tank, I am going to take my filter from my 15G and hook it up in my 60G for an hour or so a day to help with the cycling process (maybe for a week at least). Now after the week of it hanging there, that is when I am going to move my fish over.

So now, would this be a good idea?

Thanks for the help!

 

[fluttermoth]

If you're moving all the fish from the smaller tank to the larger, just move them, and the filter media at the same time; fish into the tank, old media into the new filter.

 

[Miles_hot]

Remember that the vast majority (effectively all) of the bacteria you need is in the filter so neither of tour strategies will work as you want to cycle the new filter you're in the lovely position of having a cycles filter to hand - take 1/3 of the media from old filter and put it in the new on. This will massively sped up your cycle in this way you can continue to use the old tank and the new one will cycle quickly .

 

[fluttermoth]

I can't see the point of doing a seeded cycle in the new tank, if all the fish are being moved into it. Their current filter is cycled for the current stocking; it makes no difference to the bacteria what filter or what size tank they're in.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Unless your running a under gravel filter there will next to nothing in the substrate. As said place all the media in the old filter into the new one and it will be an instant cycle as thats what is bio load was to start with

 

[ShinyCard255]

No under gravel filter. 60G tank will have actually 3 filters, an HOB and 2 DIY filters made from power heads and empty bottles.

I want to move all the fish over, but I have an african dwarf frog , an oto, and a snail that I still want to keep in the 15G. I guess I'll just move some of the media from my 15G HOB into the 60G HOB, that should help.

 

[fluttermoth]

I want to move all the fish over, but I have an african dwarf frog , an oto, and a snail that I still want to keep in the 15G.

In that case, you want to move the right amount of filter media; so, if you're moving 90% of the stock, move 90% of the media, 50% of the stock, 50% of the media. The bacterial colonies can double in 24 hours, so as long as you feed sparingly and test often, in both tanks, for the first few days you should have no problems.

Will you be getting some more otos? They do need company of their own kind to be happy, and you'll have plenty of room once the other fish have moved

 

[lucasluke]

When it is time to move just place all the fish in the new tank along with all the sponges etc from your current filter into your new filter. That way your instantly cycled.

 

[ShinyCard255]

I want to move all the fish over, but I have an african dwarf frog , an oto, and a snail that I still want to keep in the 15G.

In that case, you want to move the right amount of filter media; so, if you're moving 90% of the stock, move 90% of the media, 50% of the stock, 50% of the media. The bacterial colonies can double in 24 hours, so as long as you feed sparingly and test often, in both tanks, for the first few days you should have no problems.

Will you be getting some more otos? They do need company of their own kind to be happy, and you'll have plenty of room once the other fish have moved

I didn't know that about moving media. Thanks a lot. Big help! I will have to move about 85% of the media

Also, not quite sure what I'm going to do with the smaller tank I have. I've been thinking too much about the big tank, maybe it will be time to step back and think about the small one for a change. Maybe another oto or two, not sure as of yet

What if I were to take the sponge from the 60G HOB and let it sit in the 15G for about a week before so it gets the beneficial bacteria on it and THEN put it in the 60G HOB and let it run?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, it takes around 6 weeks for bacteria to colonise a new filter. Moving media is the best way.

 

[ShinyCard255]

Alright, looks like I'm moving the media over to simplify things. Thanks for all the help! I'll post pictures once I got the tank up and running, unless you are all interested in the DIY Aquascape I'm making as I can post my steps along the way