Filterless Cycling? Could this work?

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pelleeklund

pelleeklund

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
May 23, 2009
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Pennsylvania
I'm in a bit of a jam. I'm upgrading my growout tank from a 30 to an old 55 I had laying around. Both are set up now but I need to leave the filter on the 30 while I let the 55 gets cycled. I dont have the money to go out and buy a separate filter right now so I got to wondering if I would even need one at all. I figure give the new tank about three weeks and some rocks and water from the 30 occasionally and maybe it cycles anyway? Throw a few feeder fish in there let them poop it up? I am going to transfer the filter from one to the other around this time anyway so thats already ready for action. Does this sound good, or am I way off base? I realize it's not the optimal method but unfortunately it's the hand I have been dealt so it's going to have to go down this way, unless it's guaranteed to kill the fish. Hoping my odds are better than 70%. Any ideas?
 
I don't think you understand How "cycling" works. It's not the tank that cycles, it's the media and surface area inside the filter and tank that grows bacteria to break down waste. If your 30 is a growing for your 55 and you'll be transferring fish, just take everything out of the 30 (filters fish etc) and throw it in the 55. Then you'll have your bacteria to support your fish! It would be an instant "cycle", even though I don't like the term "cycle" because it's not just a one time process. The nitrogen cycle continues on
 
Keep your fish in a small bucket, add water, and substrate to your new tank from your old one. Supplement your substrate if needed. Use as much water as possible from your old tank. Add R/O to supplement your existing water, dont change your filter pads when you do the swap and you should be alright. Test water regularly.
 
That's the best news I got all day. Awesome. I actually did use a good bit of the 30's water to fill the 55 because I had to pick that bastard up and move it to make room for the big guy. Outstanding. I did add tap water purifier to the new water so I guess that's all the conditioning the new water needs? This is great, my wifes at my inlaws so now I can break down the 30 before she gets home. The kansas city shuffle. She would have loved to see a 220, 30 and a 55 kicking in the same room. That's some jacques cousteau stuff. Thanks fellas.
 
np good luck
 
The fastest way to cycle a tank is to move substrate and filters with the "good bacteria" on it to the new tank. That way you don't have to wait for it to colonize the new tank nearly as long. As long as you don't add more fish to the new tank than you had it the old one you should be ok.
 
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