Cycle help.

[richardhmc]

Hi everyone! I have a 30 gallon tank that i want to setup and cycle.
Right now, I have a cycled 55 gallon tank that i want to get the bacteria from.

What is a good way to cycle the 30? I have this filter.
http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/detail.asp?product_id=249866

it came with my 10 gallon tank set. But i dont think its even worth trying because i cant even tell if its sucking in any particles. What should i do?

Thank you.
-richard

 

[moespeaking]

take the filter media from the 55 and put it in the 30 gallon filter without rinsing it or cleaning it at all. put a good 10-15 gallons of water from your 55 into the 30 and bam your tank should be cycled. I always use this method and havent had any problems. If the media doesnt fit in the 30 then just ring out the filter pads from the 55 into the 30 gallon as well as dumping the water from the 55 filter into the 30.

 

[richardhmc]

But isnt it the filter that has all the bacteria and not the water?
By just adding water from the 55 to the 30, doesnt it become regular water.
and if i do this, what do i run on the 55?

-richard

 

[id10t]

The bacteria is all over everything - decorations, filter material, filter cannister, pump, etc. And the colony can double in size every day given nutrients (ammonia, etc). and surface area to cover. So either take the filter media from the new setup and put it in your old tank for a day or so and then back to the new tank (with fish) or just swap the filter media.

 

[synapse989]

a trick I used to use with "hang-on" overflow filters is to run the used filter on the new tank, and the new filter on the old tank.. helps get the bacteria started in the new filter while the used filter is spewing it into the new tank.

then you can always get "stress zyme" and do it according to your tank capacity.. helps get the BB started.

also taking some of the old tank's substrate and dumping it into your new tank helps..

 

[Bderick67]

Hey Richard, I would look into get a different filter. You can even go with a sponge filter which would be easier to maintain and have much more are for bacteria.

What type filter do you have on your 55 gallon?

 

[portabuddy]

...remember one thing, bacteria grows exponentuly, in one cycle of its life it will grow twice in size, this may cause your 55 to go through a mini cycle but i doubt it, rincing the pads in your 30 and using some of the media from your 55 realy is the best way...

 

[richardhmc]

okay. So are sponge filters a good idea? Do the bacteria get stuck in the inside of the sponge?


-richard

 

[Bderick67]

Sponge filters are great, bacteria grows on the surface of the sponge. debree and waste get trapped in the sponge, so you will need to rinse weekly. When rinsing a sponge use tank water, if you use tap water, the chlorine will kill you bacteria living on the sponge.

Also if you get a sponge filter run it in your 55 gallon for a couple weeks to seed it then transfer to the new tank.