Tank cycling time?

[Jonnyakawombell]

Hi, I've kept fish for a very long time but it's very rare that I'll set up a new tank, I'm starting of a new 125g for my blue eyed panaque, LDA105's and a few other bits and bobs, so my question is how long would it take for the 125g to cycle and be ready for fish, the filter will be almost new but has Been running in another mature tank for around a week, I can use mature water out of my 400g which has been running for around 10 years or so, the gravel is also relatively new, with all this in mind how long do you guys think it would take for the cycle to be complete, many thanks in advance because I don't have a clue lol

 

[Bigfishnut]

Take some media out of a cycled filter. The water idea won't work...there is virtually zero beneficial bacteria in the water column. I keep extra media in all my sumps just so I can fire up a new system any time.

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

Take some media out of a cycled filter. The water idea won't work...there is virtually zero beneficial bacteria in the water column. I keep extra media in all my sumps just so I can fire up a new system any time.

I have 3 fx6's running on my 400g would It work if I just swapped one of them to the 125g and the put the new fx6 on the 400g since it would still be left with 2 mature filters?

 

[deeda]

I have 3 fx6's running on my 400g would It work if I just swapped one of them to the 125g and the put the new fx6 on the 400g since it would still be left with 2 mature filters?

Yes, that should work perfectly.

 

[Bigfishnut]

I have 3 fx6's running on my 400g would It work if I just swapped one of them to the 125g and the put the new fx6 on the 400g since it would still be left with 2 mature filters?

Yup. Just keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite just in case.

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

Yes, that should work perfectly.

So doing that and using mature water etc... How long before I could add fish?

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

Yup. Just keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite just in case.

Yep will do buddy I have the nutrafin liquid master kit, it very good for tracking ammonia and nitrite

 

[Bigfishnut]

As I said, "mature" water is pointless...add the fish immediately. Don't switch the filter till you add the fish. The bacteria will die off if there's no ammonia from the fish to feed it. Trust me, I do this all the time.

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

As I said, "mature" water is pointless...add the fish immediately. Don't switch the filter till you add the fish. The bacteria will die off if there's no ammonia from the fish to feed it. Trust me, I do this all the time.

Totally trust you buddy thanks for the advice its massively appreciated, like I said I very rarely set up new tanks, and I need to get this one right as there's some expensive fish going in, thanks again

 

[Bigfishnut]

No problem