I haven't used this method too many times. I've probably used this method less than 5 times in my life, but when I do, I usually will set up a quarantine/new tank with a sponge filter that I have running in an established tank and also use water from the same tank. In essence, I'm basically do a water change into a new tank. I'm just wondering, if I'm overthinking it or if using the sponge with all new water enough for an instantly cycled tank or should there still be a waiting period?
Used Sponges In A New Tank Enough?
- Thread starter Fishburner
- Start date
There are close to no beneficial bacteria in used tank water. But it contains nitrates and alot of potentially harmfull bacteria. The running filter is enough. You don't want any waiting period because the beneficical bateria in the filter need food. While they can survive for a while without food, their numbers begin to decline after just a few hours.
Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that I normally just fill the new tank 25% with the old water and the rest is new water. I guess I was worried that it wouldn't be enough bacteria for an instant cycle.
Above is correct, the water contains not much beneficial bacteria from what I understand. Transferring an aged sponge filter should be enough, and I have use this method many times, with a few caveats
1) the bacterial population may take some time to adjust to the level of fish in the new tank- if you put one small sponge in a large tank with heavy bioload, it may not be enough and you may get a "mini cycle" with visible levels of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate until the BB population has time to grow.
2) the sponge will need to have been established for a while, i'd recommend over a month, if you just put it in the other tank for a few days and then transfer it over, there won't be much bacteria on it.
3) you need to keep the bacteria alive. It will need some ammonia, nitrite/ate in the new tank already to keep it's population high. For this reason, your idea of transferring 25% of the water from the old tank is not a bad one, although it may not be necessary if you do have enoughh bioload in the new tank to quickly start feeding the bacteria.
With all that said, I've done this many times (haven't cycled a tank "the old way" in decades) , and it usually works without much worry. If yo do get a "mini cycle", you can just do a small partial water change to keep levels low enough not to kill your fish. Best of luck!
1) the bacterial population may take some time to adjust to the level of fish in the new tank- if you put one small sponge in a large tank with heavy bioload, it may not be enough and you may get a "mini cycle" with visible levels of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate until the BB population has time to grow.
2) the sponge will need to have been established for a while, i'd recommend over a month, if you just put it in the other tank for a few days and then transfer it over, there won't be much bacteria on it.
3) you need to keep the bacteria alive. It will need some ammonia, nitrite/ate in the new tank already to keep it's population high. For this reason, your idea of transferring 25% of the water from the old tank is not a bad one, although it may not be necessary if you do have enoughh bioload in the new tank to quickly start feeding the bacteria.
With all that said, I've done this many times (haven't cycled a tank "the old way" in decades) , and it usually works without much worry. If yo do get a "mini cycle", you can just do a small partial water change to keep levels low enough not to kill your fish. Best of luck!
Hello; Pretty sure a long thread some years ago discussed the notion of using old tank water. Best evidence presented pretty much nixed the idea that water helps with a cycle. Water from an older established tank has some negative aspects.
Best is to get some solid material for an established tank. The needed bacteria (bb) are sessile is the best reason. Sessile means the bb attach to surfaces more than they exist in the water.
Best is to get some solid material for an established tank. The needed bacteria (bb) are sessile is the best reason. Sessile means the bb attach to surfaces more than they exist in the water.
We change water because the old water is constantly accumulating nitrates and other waste products of fish metabolism. It's not getting better; it's always getting worse.
Treating that old water as if it has some magical beneficial qualities makes no logical sense. If it was bad enough to remove from your old tank, why on earth would it be a good idea to put it into your new tank?
Old aquarium water has only one beneficial aspect to it, IMHO: it's great for watering plants...but, of course, that's because of all those things in it which are bad for fish...
Treating that old water as if it has some magical beneficial qualities makes no logical sense. If it was bad enough to remove from your old tank, why on earth would it be a good idea to put it into your new tank?
Old aquarium water has only one beneficial aspect to it, IMHO: it's great for watering plants...but, of course, that's because of all those things in it which are bad for fish...
