How long for tank to cycle if using old water?

[kohaku712]

Ok heres my problem,i currently have a 150g tank up and running for 3 yrs. It has canister filters for filtration. Now i just got a 210g tank and it uses a sump for filtration. my question is , how do i cycle my new tank as fast as possible? I was thinking of taking all the water from the 150 and put into the 210 and just run the tank like that without waitting for the tank to cycle, would this work? or is there any other ways to cycle it faster, cuz i have to sell my 150g setup including filters.

thxs in advance

 

[Tongue33]

No the water does not have your Bacteria.. Infact that would be pretty much the equivelent of adding straight tap without the Chorine ..

The gravel, Decor and filter media, are where your Beneficial bacteria are living and thriving.. They attach to the surfaces of these things and grow.. the water is aside from being chlorine free (which is the good part so is safe to use) , But other than that it is not of any cycling use

Prime would be your cheapest way of adding fish right away.. And Bio Spira would be the best way but expensive on a new tank... though I only have experience with Prime and only heard and Read about Bio Spira.

I would take all your filter media and anything else you can afford to as stated above and put it in the new tank.. If you are not wanting it in the tank,.... Put it in the sump til your parameters level out. To a cycled status.

 

[Tongue33]

This is good

if you have an established fitler, you have an established tank.
I usually add as much old media as I can (into the new filter), squeeze some "sludge" from other sponges/filters, and add fish.

My savior has been sponge filters. I keep them in a lot of my tanks just incase I want to start another one.

 

[pirahna1950]

No the water does not have your Bacteria.. Infact that would be pretty much the equivelent of adding straight tap without the Chorine ..

So exactly what do you think keeps all this bacteria alive?

 

[is300zx]

No the water does not have your Bacteria.. Infact that would be pretty much the equivelent of adding straight tap without the Chorine ..

Actually if you think about it, how would bacteria get into your filter without being added through other means? If you do a fishless cycle and start of with new filter, decos, and subtrate and only add ammonia from a bottle, how does bacteria get there?

From what I read there is bacteria in the water but very little compared to what you would find on a filter media or subtrate. So the best way to get bacteria to a new tank is by using already established media from another source like the other tank.

 

[spoofsjsc]

Actually if you think about it, how would bacteria get into your filter without being added through other means? If you do a fishless cycle and start of with new filter, decos, and subtrate and only add ammonia from a bottle, how does bacteria get there?

From what I read there is bacteria in the water but very little compared to what you would find on a filter media or subtrate. So the best way to get bacteria to a new tank is by using already established media from another source like the other tank.

Right. the bacteria, though not enough to sustain your new tank already exists in the water.

I understand the tank will be sold, packaged with the filters. what i suggest you do is keep the old media and put em in your sump. swap the new media with it so your buyer still gets an equiped canister minus th BB.

 

[fishnutham]

My personal opinion is if you can use the water its a great start if theres some bb in the water which there will be and waste wich will also get the cycle rolling do it.Then add lost of aeration to the tank and the bb will multiply very quickly better then fishless cycle in a bottle.
I tried it once and had fairly good results .

 

[Aussienative]

Up to you if you swap the water from the old tank to the new...

But what you defiantely have to do is pull all the media out of your canister and put it in your sump...... buda boom.... you got a cycled tank

 

[pirahna1950]

Aussienative, Not quite. New water needs seasoning to become stable, with or without the old media. Nutrients in the water allow the media to continue without a relapse. vbmenu_register("postmenu_740304", true);

 

[is300zx]

Not quite. New water needs seasoning to become stable, with or without the old media. Nutrients in the water allow the media to continue without a relapse.

What exactly do you mean by seasoning? The only thing beneficial bacterias need is a source of ammonia.