Confused about "instant cycle". . .

[Celestevan]

I just purchased a 40 gallon at Petco today and was wanting to start cycling. To be honest I have always done a Fish Cycle, but was hoping to avoid that this time around. I was looking around at websites and found this:

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/freshwater-beginners/90737-some-thoughts-overstocked-tank.html

If I was to move all my substrate, fish, 2 filters, and driftwood from my current (already cycled) tank, would this be the same thing they are talking about (post #2 on the link)? My plan would be to run the new filter in the new tank for 48 hours, then place everything from my old tank into the 40 gallon *new* tank followed with a bottle of Tetra Safe Start. I would not change the amount of fish or add any until the tank is stable, but I'm just wondering if this is actually accurate information.

Second, if I did not want to move the substrate over to the new tank, would that impact the results?

 

[mofisher]

i would move one filter to the new tank and put the tetra safe start have it run in there for 48 houres test the water if its not suitable then let the filter run longer

 

[Kyle_91]

i just bought a new 30 gal tall today because i couldn't pass up the price ($60 for a 30 gal). i took everything from the tank i had (which was smaller size); even about 3 quarters of the water and siphoned it into the new tank and then filled the rest up with regular water about 77 degrees. put in the filter, gravel, rocks, plants, all necessarily medicines,the fish and had it all done cautiously in about 2 hours.
Fish are loving the extra room as it sits now

 

[leeishom]

Just use the old filter media in the new filter.
Instant cycle.

 

[Celestevan]

i would move one filter to the new tank and put the tetra safe start have it run in there for 48 houres test the water if its not suitable then let the filter run longer

According to a representative at Tetra, ". . . you should set up the tank, and letit run at least 24 hours, then, shortly before you head off to the store for your first fish, add TSS to the tank. Within two hours, you should
add the fish."

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/aquarium-nitrogen-cycle/58116-q-tetra-tetra-safestart.html

Leeishorn: Will this harm my fish? I hear Otos can be sensitive and I'm most concerned with them. So, pretty much what you're saying is that as long as I use the old filter media in the new filter I should be fine and it should instantly cycle? What if they are different sizes (old one is AquaClear 20 and new filter is Aquaclear 70)?

 

[Celestevan]

Oh, also I currently have unwanted snails in my tank. Do snails usually live in your filter media?? If so I'm going to go crazy and cry in a corner .

 

[philfreenode]

If you move the filters (or their media) at the same time as the fish it will be fine, the tank will be cycled. Make sure the temperature is the same so you don't shock them.

Don't move a filter and run it on the new tank without the fish, the beneficial bacteria will die within a day or two without the fish waste present.

 

[sigaru]

i just bought a new 30 gal tall today because i couldn't pass up the price ($60 for a 30 gal). i took everything from the tank i had (which was smaller size); even about 3 quarters of the water and siphoned it into the new tank and then filled the rest up with regular water about 77 degrees. put in the filter, gravel, rocks, plants, all necessarily medicines,the fish and had it all done cautiously in about 2 hours.
Fish are loving the extra room as it sits now

this is pretty much what i typically do, as if it were a water change. put most of the old water into the new tank, along with some new water [just like a water change], and the old filter, substrate, plants. decorations, etc. always worked for me. it's not the glass that contains the bacteria etc., it's the stuff inside it! if you just change it all over as if it's not any different, then there's really no difference. but like philfreenode said, make sure the temperature is the same.

 

[Celestevan]

Will it be the same if I don't move the substrate? I don't want snails from my current tank in this new one!! I hate them. I know there is always a chance of them getting in, but I'm hoping to minimize the risk as much as possible while still keeping my tank cycled.

 

[sigaru]

it should still work i would think, though you want to make sure you definitely keep the same filter media. though honestly, to answer your question before, there could be tiny snails in your filter media.. depends on your filter type, i'm assuming it's probably a HOB, in which case yes, there most likely are.. i'm very sorry. i have this problem in my 30g.. it is SO infested. was able to cut it back for a while but then it came back. i guess they make some chemical stuff you can throw in there, but any other invertebrates get killed as well i believe, and i also have a bamboo shrimp and eight little cleaner type shrimp [were sold to me labled "japonica" or something, but who the heck knows], and i wouldn't want to kill them. also, i really don't like to use any chemicals or medicines in my tanks to begin with. i believe in preventing disease before it happens, and if that's not good enough, catching it as early as possible and killing it off with salt and heat! lol. always worked for me but i've never had a major problem. had a possible start of ich in my community tank once but started the salt/heat regimen and whatever it was went away very quickly. anway, that's off topic..