Is it enough to start?

[Gourami Swami]

Hello everyone. I currently have an aquaclear 30 and a bio-wheel 20 on a 20g with a small T. Buttikoferi. Both filters have been running for about 5 months with rinses every few weeks. I have a 72 gallon bow that I wanted to cycle by introducing, say, 25 feeders and adding the cycled filter to the tank. The only concern I have is that since the filter is only an aquaclear 30, would It have enough beneficial bacteria to spread to the other filter (whisper power filter 60) and cycle the tank?

 

[muckieman]

it should but not 100% sure it be better to add the bio meda dircly to teh new filter.

 

[big train]

I would use the water from the 20 and put in the 72 on wc days that should help oh and i would just swap out the bio media from the 30 to the 60. I use scrubbies for media in all my hob filters so everything is interchangable but i bet u could fit a ac bio filter block into a whisper that should spike the cycle process.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Thanks, Ill try what you suggested. Im in memphis visiting family at the moment, and I wont be back home untill saturday, but I'll keep you updated.

 

[Ianab]

would It have enough beneficial bacteria to spread to the other filter (whisper power filter 60) and cycle the tank?

Yes it will work fine, as long as you take it easy with the number of fish you start out with.
Although the filter is too small for that tank it will do an OK job of filtering it when it's only partly stocked. After a few weeks the new filters will have begun working and you can increase the amount of fish and eventually remove the little filter.

Even a small filter has zillions of bacteria, a big filter just has 10 x zillions more.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Gourami Swami]

Thanks. How many fish would you suggest to start out with? Maybe 15 feeders and a 4" peacock bass? Maybe hold off on my cichla until the tank is definately safe?

 

[Ianab]

I would go with just the feeders to start with.
It might be perfectly safe, but why risk valuable fish if you dont have to.
If the feeders are fine and water conditions are good after a couple of weeks then start adding some more fish.

Cheers

Ian