Bacteria Build Up

[Vitaliy]

I decided to put up a small tank on my window (5.5 gallons - 20 liter) that will house 3 Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi (Black Neon Tetras) and maybe 1 Corydoras of sorts with a whole bunch of Java Fern. Right now I put up an AquaClear 30 to cycle on one of my established tanks to then use on the window tank; how long should I leave the filter on there for proper amount of bacteria to build up?

 

[Ang]

Well, you honestly wont know when its ready to come of exactly.

Without it being on an uncycled tank, i dont think there is any way to keep track.

If it were me, i guess i would leave it on there for 1 or 2 weeks.

or maybe once you see it starting to have a brown layer on it.

Even then, once you put it on the 5 gallon, you could have a mini cycle if there isnt sufficient bacteria. But i would say at least 1 week.

 

[rallysman]

I think a couple of weeks would work.