Bacteria?

[cartisdm]

I just set up my 30gal today with a nice sand substrate and a little decor. I took a about 1 1/4 cup of gravel from my existing 10gal and threw it in a plastic solo cup with holes punched in it. I also threw in about 10 rosie reds.

How long should I expect it too cycle? I'm not in a big hurry I guess but I'd like to get an idea. Would adding a heater now affect the time at all?

 

[frankthetank]

Just a suggestion...do you have any filter media from your 10 gal that you can put in the 30 gal filter? That might help speed up. And I don't think a heater will affect the cycling process at all. I'd say it'll take 3-4 weeks

 

[cartisdm]

Just a suggestion...do you have any filter media from your 10 gal that you can put in the 30 gal filter? That might help speed up. And I don't think a heater will affect the cycling process at all. I'd say it'll take 3-4 weeks

No, the 10gal just has one filter in it and I don't really want to change it out just for a cycle.

 

[ksfishguy]

In my experience adding a bit of gravel will not speed things up much. Filter media is where it is at. Maybe your local fish store or a friend could hook you up. There is nothing better than a old dirty nasty filter cartridge to speed things up, mucho beneficial bacteria.

 

[ziggy2]

Put the heater on it. It helps the bacteria grow.

 

[Dr Joe]

Your looking at a month to 6 wks.

How are you circulating water thru the solo cup?

What is the filtration on the 20g?

frankthetank was want you to put some (not all) of the filter material from the 10g in the 30g's filter to seed it.

Rinse any filter media you plan to use in old tank water to remove the detritus (muck) from it as this is an undesirable element. The bacteria are growing on the media itself.

Do you have aeration too?

Dr Joe

.

 

[cartisdm]

Your looking at a month to 6 wks.

How are you circulating water thru the solo cup?

What is the filtration on the 20g?

frankthetank was want you to put some (not all) of the filter material from the 10g in the 30g's filter to seed it.

Rinse any filter media you plan to use in old tank water to remove the detritus (muck) from it as this is an undesirable element. The bacteria are growing on the media itself.

Do you have aeration too?

Dr Joe

.

Month to six months is a really long time before I could add my 2 fishes over!

The 10gal only has one carbon filter and debris sponge that's inside a HOB filter. "some (not all)" I really only have those two options and I don't want to take them out, other than adding gravel I don't know what else to speed up the cycle. The 10gal doesn't have any aeration, the 30gal will have some tomorrow afternoon when I get my pump in.