kind of newbie question but......

[guppy breeder]

appropriately how long should it take a 29g tank to cycle with 50% old tank water an a filter from a tank that has been set up for a 6 months now

*edit* oh forgot to mention it has a few guppies in it

 

[ziggy2]

It should go faster. Maybe a couple of weeks. You just need to test and watch your spikes to know when it is complete. Also, remember that it will only cycle to the load you put on it. If you have a light load and then add more fish you will probably have another mini cycle.

 

[guppy breeder]

can my cons survive a mini cycle

*edit* can you add plants to the tank while it is still cycling?

 

[Dan F]

If the water looks clear after a week or two I think you would be safe to move the Convicts. Two Convicts in a 29 gallon is a pretty light load. Good luck!

 

[guppy breeder]

well you also have to take into account there babies

 

[Merbeast]

Old water is no better than new water. Old water has nitrates in it, you need ammonia, nitrites and bacteria to cycle a tank.

Old filter is good, it has the bacteria needed to cycle a tank.

Cons should do fine cycling your tank.

Plants are GREAT, they use nitrogen (from ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) to grow. They have NO negative effect on cycling, and will keep your tank and fish healthier. If you have enough plants, you don't need to cycle as the plants will use up all the ammonia the fish can produce.

So, how long will it take to cycle? It depends on the old filter you added, how many plants you add and how many fish you add. It should be a couple of weeks to stabilize without plants, less time with plants.

 

[guppy breeder]

ok thanks ill go add my 6 or 7 plants now

 

[gomezladdams]

You dont cycle a tank,you cycle a filter.Your filter is still "cycled" to handle the bioload it was carrying before.By putting it in a new tank with less fish you are effectivly reducing its bacteria colony.As long as the amount of fish in the new tank isnt alot more than it was filtering for before,your fish will be fine.

Nice sig lol

 

[Dr Joe]

You dont cycle a tank,you cycle a filter.Your filter is still "cycled" to handle the bioload it was carrying before.By putting it in a new tank with less fish you are effectivly reducing its bacteria colony.As long as the amount of fish in the new tank isnt alot more than it was filtering for before,your fish will be fine.

Nice sig lol

Bingo! gomezladdams has it right-on.

The thing that would change this is if you left the filter off for a prolonged period of time (hour'ish) as the bacteria with die off.

Dr Joe

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[guppy breeder]

so since im useing a filter off a established tank i can go ahead and put my fish in there new tank