New tank cycling and Beneficial bacteria questions

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Black Tuna

Black Tuna

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Mar 4, 2014
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California
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Hi, I have a few questions on beneficial bacteria. Basically I had 2 cycled tanks, a 29 gallon and 20 gallon tanks and am upgrading to a 60 gallon. I moved one hob filter and its media to the new tank, added a brand new hob filter as well and used the old media from the 20 gallon. Unfortunately I rinsed our the filters and media in fresh, non conditioned water lightly. I heard this may eliminate some or all of the bacteria. Since I was breeding convicts in the old tanks I had 2 established sponge filters that I moved into the 60 gallon. I did not rinse the sponge filters fortunately. I used approx 15 gallons of the old water from the 29 gallon. On the second day I introduced 2 buenos aires tetras to give off some amonia. The fish are fine as Im on the 5th day of cycling. Im gonna take it in to test the water this weekend but in your opinion would you guess that the tank it's cycled to support 4 small medium cichlids and a couple dithers?

Thx in advance for the feedback

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i had a hob on my 38 that i switched to my 72 and added a few fish in right after. and all had survived. im not sure but i think i read that using the older water does not really do anything since most of the bacteria is in the filters. i think that you should be fine with the sponge filter as the bacteria will make its way to the hob. i would just monitor everything over this time and i would just get a test kit.
 
It is likely that you did ruin much of the Bacteria by washing the cartridges but it is still worth it to put on your new tank. There is bacteria in the old aquarium water but a very small percentage, still, it would help. I always like to stick my substrate from an already established tank in a nylon sock and let it hang in the new tank for a while. As for your cichlids, I would certainly test your parameters and continue to watch closely once introduced, but I'm sure they will be fine.

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Mojorisin138 said:
It is likely that you did ruin much of the Bacteria by washing the cartridges but it is still worth it to put on your new tank. There is bacteria in the old aquarium water but a very small percentage, still, it would help. I always like to stick my substrate from an already established tank in a nylon sock and let it hang in the new tank for a while. As for your cichlids, I would certainly test your parameters and continue to watch closely once introduced, but I'm sure they will be fine.

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+1 if the water was treated with a tap water treatment, it will be fine. i to bbe honest, have never had any problems with starting new tanks and ammonia. Not saing that it wont happen because i know it can. i just use a large amount of a bacteria supplement like seachem stablility, or smart start complete, along with "seeding" the tank like mentioned above. i would say that you will be fine. it would not be a bad idea to invest in a ammonia alert from seachem. that way you can see if your ammonia is climbing at a glance.
 
the ones you rinsed in tap water are probably mostly killed if not all, chlorine does not mess around. having seeded media still on hand great, do not think hanging gravel will help a hole lot as does not have water flowing through it, nor does adding old tank water really help. but you add slowly as you are saying think you be fine.
 
tap water will deffinately kill off your bacteria fast. this last filter cleaning, the tray with my biomedia in it got splashed with tap water. needless to say i had cloudy water for the next week.
 
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