In a bind!...Cycling question

[Bleeding]

I am in the process of converting my 20 gallon community tank (mostly livebearers) over to a 55 gallon due to some overpopulation which is causing very bad water conditions.

I just ordered an Eheim 2028 filter last night from ebay, which will probably take a week to get here. Here is the problem: my 20 gallon sprung a leak last night, and I cant assume it will last very long.

Here is what I proposed to do - Get the substrate and plants into the 55 gallon tonight (using sand so I have to rinse it to get the muddy stuff out) and then just put the fish into the tank using the 20 gallons of existing water, and then add the 30 gallons of new water. I would have to use the cheap hang on back filter that is on my 20 gallon until the Eheim gets here. The bad thing is, that filter is hardly enough for 20 gallons.

Do I even need to cycle this tank if I am using all the existing water and the existing filter? Will i lose bacteria by not using the rock base that is in my 20 gallon? Is this a bad idea?

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[js302]

1
Here is what I proposed to do - Get the substrate and plants into the 55 gallon tonight (using sand so I have to rinse it to get the muddy stuff out)
2
and then just put the fish into the tank using the 20 gallons of existing water, and then add the 30 gallons of new water.
3
Do I even need to cycle this tank if I am using all the existing water and the existing filter? Will i lose bacteria by not using the rock base that is in my 20 gallon? Is this a bad idea?I would have to use the cheap hang on back filter that is on my 20 gallon until the Eheim gets here. The bad thing is, that filter is hardly enough for 20 gallons.

Thanks for the help everyone!

1
Don't rinse it. U need all the bacteria u can get and alot will be in the sand

2
Agree - be sure to dechlorinate properly.
Can u clean the HOB of trapped detritus, being careful not to clean the filter pads of bacteria. This will aid biological filtration rate.
You probably will have a spike because you said the HOB was barely enough for the 20.
Can u borrow another filter from somebody to aid in mechanical filration so ur HOB can do as much biological filtration as possible.

3
You dont need to cycle the "tank" but u do need to cycle the "filter" that is comming soon. This should be quicker than an unestablished filter because u will already have a source on ammonia and nitrite.

Try to increase aeration eg an air stone to generate surface movement because a possible nitrite spike will inhibit oxygen uptake by ur fish.

Be sure to not overfeed at all!

 

[Bleeding]

Clarification:

The sand is not the current substrate in the 20 gallon. The 20 gallon has rocks.

The new tank will be getting a sand/fertilizer substrate.

 

[Tongue33]

Transfer EVERYTHING to the 30 g you have sitting ANd start cycling the 55 at the same time

 

[RadleyMiller]

Transfer EVERYTHING to the 30 g you have sitting ANd start cycling the 55 at the same time

yea, just put the 20 gallon's contents into the 55. add a little salt, it helps with nitrite burning

 

[Bleeding]

and this process eliminates the cycling process for the new tank basically?

 

[RadleyMiller]

and this process eliminates the cycling process for the new tank basically?

it will help you a great deal