After ten years of keeping fish, I've been looking to start over and do a major rehaul on my existing 55g. New fish, new substrate, new plants, all new. My main question is if I am changing the substrate (and old filter, decorations, etc.) how can I seed the tank with some of the old bacteria to give it a healthy head start? Maybe I could leave on the old filter for a while, and then add the new canister? The filter has kept a pretty steady supply of bacteria, but I wouldn't know how to keep it healthy if I switched filters. Is there a reliable and simple way to seed a new setup in an old tank? If I could get a step-by-step, it would be very appreciated!
A few questions about starting over and cycling an old setup
- Thread starter Oscicherum
- Start date
yeah just use the seasoned filter media and old filter for awhile. you can add the new filter on and run that too. are you gonna take all the water out? if not you should be fine to modify everything else and add fish whenever. you can use a water test kit if you wish but as long as its the same water i wouldnt even worry.
Looking to take all the water out, I'm changing the substrate from gravel to sand and thought it would make less of a mess and less of a sandstorm if I just removed all the water then put the sand in. I don't know how I'll get it ALL out, but I'm not too concerned about that right now. Could I just put the old filter in after I refill the tank, then add the new filter, then after having both run in tandem for a while take away the old one? If not, is there an easy way to seed the tank?
On a different note, if there is a good way to keep the water pristine and add the sand fast, I'd be sold. I'd definitely aquascape pretty hardcore with rocks and sand (thinking of a yin-yang kinda situation with separated black and white sand) so I don't know if I should take out all of the water, or maybe like 3/4 of it.
keep in mind that most of your BB will be living in/on the rocks you are removing.
I would bag a bunch of the rocks and keep them in the tank for a while after you add the sand. This will help your BB colony.
If you dont bag the rocks just watch your parameters as it may take a bit if time to get new BB to colonize.
I would bag a bunch of the rocks and keep them in the tank for a while after you add the sand. This will help your BB colony.
If you dont bag the rocks just watch your parameters as it may take a bit if time to get new BB to colonize.
Put the old filter media in the new canister. The bacteria should be fed with ammonia daily, so don't leave the filter running with no fish or ammonia for more than 24 hours.
You will get that white haze bacterial bloom in the beginning, but that will go away with time. A lot of heterotrophic bacteria that eat organic compounds live in the substrate so you will be losing most of them when you remove the substrate. A majority of your ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria live in your filters.
You will get that white haze bacterial bloom in the beginning, but that will go away with time. A lot of heterotrophic bacteria that eat organic compounds live in the substrate so you will be losing most of them when you remove the substrate. A majority of your ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria live in your filters.
Majority of your BB should be in the filter. I've done multiple substrate swaps with no ill effect. I often siphon substrate out, pour water back in then refill it till the old stuff is out entirely. Unless you're using a UGF I don't think there's too much to worry about with sufficient regular filtration.
Pre-rinsed sand will be good to go quickly, maybe slightly cloudy for a day or two but the filter should fix it up quickly.
As for seeding may as well start from scratch, many bacterial products on the market which do work in my experience. Without a food source the bacteria in your filter may die off anyway.
