Cycling a new tank

[Cheapeeper]

I'm getting a 20 gallon from a friend and I'm wondering about cycling.
If I put on a HOB filter that has already been used in another aquarium, and use gravel from also another currently in use aquarium will this speed up my cycling?
How long do i need to wait to add my fish to the aquarium?
In the past i always just set up my aquarium and left it alone a few days then added fish and they were fine. But I was new then and didn't know what I was doing. (Lucky my fish are all still alive).
Any advice on this would be great.

 

[alcohologist]

you say the HOB is currently in use? is it the only filtration on this 20gal? because if it is, then once the HOB is on the tank, the tank is cycled. of course it all depends on the stocking of the previous tank as well as yours, but i'd say it's safe to add fish one or two days after putting the filter and gravel in.

 

[Cheapeeper]

Yes currently the filter is in use in a 10 gallon also that is where the gravel will come from is the 10 gallon. Currently in the 10 gallon is my Black Convict pair and about 3 small Black Convicts that are less then 1/2 inch long.
I'm upgrading to the 20 gallon and had just planned on putting the 10 gallon HOB and the gravel into the 20 gallon to cycle it. Then later I would get a bigger HOB for the 20 gallon and put the 3 small Convicts back into the 10 until they are bigger.
I hope this works before the pair kill off my 3 smaller ones.

 

[alcohologist]

sounds like a good plan.