What's The Quickest Way To Cycle A Tank

martin_jones · Jul 25, 2006

I have just got a second aquarium, and was wondering what's the quickest way to cycle it.

I am going on holidays for a week next week, so was hoping to make a start while I'm away.

What would the best way to do this be?

Assumably I should rinse the existing filters in the tank to spread the bacteria (I've only had the first tank about 7 weeks - is that OK?), but what else can I do to aid the cycle?

TIA

Martin

saboy · Jul 25, 2006

you can take a small amountof media from your other mature tank, put it in the new tanks filter, it should then be a "cycled" tank, adding fish slowly will grow the media from what what you put in to the other new media in the new filter

martin_jones · Jul 25, 2006

I forgot to mention that my existing tank is a Juwel, my new tank has an external eheim pump. I doubt the two will be compatible, will they?

Martin

Cheffi · Jul 25, 2006

martin_jones said:
I forgot to mention that my existing tank is a Juwel, my new tank has an external eheim pump. I doubt the two will be compatible, will they?

Martin

Could you not fit your eheim up to your Juwel tank and run it alongside the internal until you come back by which time your eheim will be full of beneficial bacteria?

martin_jones · Jul 25, 2006

Could do. Unfortunately, I don't know what sort of filter it is yet. Hopefully will find out more information soon

If anything bad was in the eheim, would that be bad for my existing tank?

I suppose the 'worst case scenario' is that my existing tank would die whilst I'm away. Obviously I don't want this to happen. What are the risks?

Martin

Cheffi · Jul 25, 2006

martin_jones said:
Could do. Unfortunately, I don't know what sort of filter it is yet. Hopefully will find out more information soon

If anything bad was in the eheim, would that be bad for my existing tank?

I suppose the 'worst case scenario' is that my existing tank would die whilst I'm away. Obviously I don't want this to happen. What are the risks?

Martin

So I assume it's a 2nd hand one? If so couldn't you just get new media for it?

smmetz · Jul 25, 2006

Adding mature filter media to a new tank that has no fish in it for a week or two wont really help. The bacteria from the old filter media will die off with no source of amonia or nitrites to feed on.

I like the suggestion someone made of running the new filter in your old tank while you are gone. Keep the old filter running also. While you are away, bacteria will start to grow in the new filter. Then, you just put the new filter on your new tank when you get back. I would not fully stock your new tank right away though, just get a few fish at first, and monitor the amonia and nitrate levels. Add a couple more fish per week, assuming the amonia levels stay at 0 and your nitrates continue to rise gradually between water changes.

Ilke Cheffi said, just get new filter media for the Eheim if it already has used stuff in it. You can use what is in there if you want, but if it has been sitting for more than a day, all the good bacteria are already dead anyway.

martin_jones · Jul 27, 2006

Thanks for the feedback.

I might try the filter in my existing tank option.

Thanks

Martin

trace1 · Jul 27, 2006

running the filter in your old tank does work, i have done it a few times now & i always have a spare filter running somewhere just in case

Jules H-T · Jul 27, 2006

Just as a theoretical response to the actual question you asked, you would chuck a few prawns (frozen ones) in before you go. They would rot and release ammonia steadily so you can pick up the dosing when you return.

However, since you have a cycled tank I'd hook the new filter up to your old tank before you go, and when you get back move straight into the new tank as everyone else is suggesting.

plantropimunity · Jul 27, 2006

i would like to cast my vote for running the filter that is destined for the new tank on the old one while you are away. this is the only way that you could effectively "cycle" your new tank while not actually being there adding ammonia. i dont know that one week will be enough time to fully seed the new filter, but it will be a start. if i were you i would run it on the old tank, then switch it when you get back and start a fishless cycle. i believe that this would shorten your overall cycle time.

Jules H-T · Jul 27, 2006

plantropimunity said:
i would like to cast my vote for running the filter that is destined for the new tank on the old one while you are away. this is the only way that you could effectively "cycle" your new tank while not actually being there adding ammonia. i dont know that one week will be enough time to fully seed the new filter, but it will be a start. if i were you i would run it on the old tank, then switch it when you get back and start a fishless cycle. i believe that this would shorten your overall cycle time.

If you were going to do anything, then you should run them side by side, then when you get back switch the internal to minimum throughput for a few days, then move tanks. You'll be adequately seeded by then.

martin_jones · Jul 28, 2006

Thanks.

My next question: Will running the standard Juwel 70 filter AND my new eheim 2215 be too much for the Juwel 70?

Also, if I were to fill my new tank and leave if for a week with no pump/filtration, would that be a bad thing to do?

Martin

Cheffi · Jul 28, 2006

martin_jones said:
Thanks.

My next question: Will running the standard Juwel 70 filter AND my new eheim 2215 be too much for the Juwel 70?

Also, if I were to fill my new tank and leave if for a week with no pump/filtration, would that be a bad thing to do?

Martin

There has to be a way to lower the flow rate on them so you don't get huge water movement using them together I would think. Also why do you need to fill your tank before you go away couldn't you just wait til you get back, then fill and run for couple of days with eheim?