New tank/moved

[Michael6945c]

I bought a new house a few miles from my old one, and decided it would be a great opportunity to get a larger aquarium (went from a 55 to a 125). I know I’m supposed to let the tank cycle since it’s all new equipment, but if I move the substrate from the 55, along with the filter, into the new tank, how long do I need to wait? Still around a month? Or will a few days work. It’s my understanding the microorganisms are in the filters and substrate, so if I move those and they sit for a day or 2, it would “technically” be cycled, correct?

 

[Steve_C]

The majority of the good bacteria lives in the filter media, and a good portion in the substrate. Long as your 55 filter was cycled before and you didn't leave the filter off a tank long enough for any of the bacteria to die off without an ammonia source then you'll still be good to go. Since the 125 is bigger and you'll be adding more substrate and such then you may exp a small mini cycle so just keep tabs on your parameters for the first week or two.