Fastest way to get new tank cycled

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Jon M

Jon M

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2010
1,252
155
96
Port Saint John, FL
Hey guys. I'm boggling my mind at the moment. Here's my issue.

Currently I have my two Tiger Os in a 55 gallon that's been cycled and is up and running fine with excellent water readings. I'm changing to a 125 gallon within the next few weeks and I'm trying to establish how in the world I'm going to get this tank livable for Loki and Luna within a few days. I'm on the second floor of an apartment so I don't particularly want a 55g and 125g setup at the same time in my apartment. I know I can swap over the HOB with the bb already in it but my new tank setup is using a full W/D sump and a HOB on my tank canopy/hood is simply not possible. I could leave the canopy/hood off and run the HOB but then I don't have a lid which is not a wise thing to do with Loki in there. I know I have bb in the substrate but I'm switching to sand in this new tank so using that isn't an option either.

Any suggestions guys????? I was thinking maybe set up the tank with the sand and scoop some of the gravel substrate from the 55g and pantyhosing it and droppin' it on top of the sand for a few weeks initially. Would this maybe help and allow me to swap them over safely, and quickly so I don't have two tanks running at once?...

I am really drawing a blank here so any advice here or opinions would sure be helpful.


EDIT: I just had a random thought right after posting this. (Like I said I can't stop thinking about it!) The substrate has BB in it so could I essentially just pantyhose the substrate and set it down submerged in the bottom of the w/d sump where the pump is???? Also another thought. The biological filter inside the HOB. All the HOB does is cycle the water same as the sump. Could I keep this there as well? Does the biological filter with the BB stay submerged in water or does it just stay moist? Either way I could leave it submerged in the bottom of sump OR have it in one of my drawers with media that stay moist from the drip tray. Thoughts?
 
I would set up the new tank and run the old filters on it until your new sump is sufficiently seeded. Just leave the canopy off and get a piece of egg crate to use as a temporary lid.
 
Jon M;4737619; said:
Hey guys. I'm boggling my mind at the moment. Here's my issue.

Currently I have my two Tiger Os in a 55 gallon that's been cycled and is up and running fine with excellent water readings. I'm changing to a 125 gallon within the next few weeks and I'm trying to establish how in the world I'm going to get this tank livable for Loki and Luna within a few days. I'm on the second floor of an apartment so I don't particularly want a 55g and 125g setup at the same time in my apartment. I know I can swap over the HOB with the bb already in it but my new tank setup is using a full W/D sump and a HOB on my tank canopy/hood is simply not possible. I could leave the canopy/hood off and run the HOB but then I don't have a lid which is not a wise thing to do with Loki in there. I know I have bb in the substrate but I'm switching to sand in this new tank so using that isn't an option either.

Any suggestions guys????? I was thinking maybe set up the tank with the sand and scoop some of the gravel substrate from the 55g and pantyhosing it and droppin' it on top of the sand for a few weeks initially. Would this maybe help and allow me to swap them over safely, and quickly so I don't have two tanks running at once?...

I am really drawing a blank here so any advice here or opinions would sure be helpful.


EDIT: I just had a random thought right after posting this. (Like I said I can't stop thinking about it!) The substrate has BB in it so could I essentially just pantyhose the substrate and set it down submerged in the bottom of the w/d sump where the pump is???? Also another thought. The biological filter inside the HOB. All the HOB does is cycle the water same as the sump. Could I keep this there as well? Does the biological filter with the BB stay submerged in water or does it just stay moist? Either way I could leave it submerged in the bottom of sump OR have it in one of my drawers with media that stay moist from the drip tray. Thoughts?
Click to expand...


You pretty much answered your own question! I would recommend setting your tank up to your liking with the canopy and all, and just use your gravel in your sump and the bio media from your hob's in your sump as well. That is enough to support your bio load of your 2 oscars in your 55 and will do the same in the 125 until the new media and tank is completely cycled. Just keep an eye on your levels by testing the water.
 
Alright awesome. Thanks for the information guys. I've been thinking about this for like a day now (I know stupid) and when I thought about the sump I was like well damn why don't I just throw the media in there!?

I'll be on the water tests like a hawk. I'm extremely o.c.d. about my water conditions. (run strip test frequently through out the week and chemical api master kit test weekly)

What do you guys estimate for the substrate before I can remove it say a month?... Same for the bio filter in the HOB. I'm not sure if those stay submerged in water while in the HOB (I thought they did) or are they just kept wet? Either way I can accommodate it in the w/d I just know different bb grow in moist not submerged water and others in submerges so I need to know where I need to put the bio filter. Also should I move the other media piece in the HOB over as well?... I believe the other one is a charcoal filter correct? Do they contain bb or just filtrate the water?...
 
Just make sure to dechlorinate your water before adding any of the seeding material. Defeats the whole thing when there's chlorine in there killing the BB.
 
Just take all your old gravel and put it somewhere in your sump. Also, take the pad that's supposed to house BB on your HOB and stick it right in the middle of all your bio-media in the W/D.
 
Of course Jamo3030. Thanks for the heads up. ;) I'll dose it with Prime first.

I know there are two cartridges in the HOB. The biological filter which houses BB and the carbon filter which I'm not sure what it does. Should I be transferring the carbon filter over to the sump as well?

I know the gravel is submerged in water so it must contain the BB that grows in submerged water so I should put it down where the pump is correct? Technically I guess I don't even need to pantyhose it and could leave it there permanently right? I mean it's not harming anything and is just another media that BB is growing on right?
 
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