Going from 60 to 120 gallon tank. Cycling ? - Aquarium Advice

xcuter · 04-14-2005, 12:56 PM

I want to know if i transfer all my water and my 2 canister filters over to the 120 gallon tank will i still need to cycle the new tank or can i add fish right away. is was thinking if i do that and just add 20 gallons of new water every day until the tank fills.

thatonegirl · 04-14-2005, 01:12 PM

As long as you don't add any extra fish, you should be fine. Your cannister filters are carrying most of the BB from your old tank and your old bioload. Keep an eye on your params, as you may see a mini cycle from what BB you lose from your substrate, though.

bzbee · 04-14-2005, 05:45 PM

You SHOULD move your existing fish at the same time to maintain bioload and prevent bacteria die-off, but you should take your time adding more fish to give the bacteria time to grow to compensate for any additional load.

Blucat · 04-14-2005, 07:00 PM

you will experience a mini cycle however where there only is an ammonia spike. you could use the same substrate maybe too?

xcuter · 04-14-2005, 07:15 PM

both tanks are bare

BrianNY · 04-15-2005, 08:47 AM

Cannister filters are excellent for establishing and maintaining an adaquate source of nitrifying bacteria. As long as you don't turn the filters off for more than a few hours, and use the water from your old tank, you will have no problem.

TygGer · 04-15-2005, 04:01 PM

Are you setting up a second tank or moving the entire livestock from your 60 to the 120?

flipz · 04-15-2005, 06:06 PM

let me throw in my 2 cents that 99.9% of the bacteria is living in your substrate, your filter, and other items in the tank. there is almost nothing floating in the water itself. use the water to fill up the new tank simply for the sake of saving water, but it won't do much for preventing a cycle.

however like others said, by transferring your substrate and especially those cansiters (make sure you don't let anything dry out) you definetly won't have a problem with a cycle. you *might* get a mini-cyle, but nothing on a large scale.

and tygger, from his description i would say he's moving everything into the 120.

-brent

TygGer · 04-15-2005, 07:24 PM

flipz, I agree. The bacteria is on the surface of the items in the tank and not free floating in the water column.

If you are transferring everthing from one tank to the other and not adding any new fish, you shouldn't detect a cycle.

04-14-2005, 12:56 PM	#1
xcuter Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: socal Posts: 17	Going from 60 to 120 gallon tank. Cycling ? I want to know if i transfer all my water and my 2 canister filters over to the 120 gallon tank will i still need to cycle the new tank or can i add fish right away. is was thinking if i do that and just add 20 gallons of new water every day until the tank fills.

04-14-2005, 05:45 PM	#3
bzbee Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 190	You SHOULD move your existing fish at the same time to maintain bioload and prevent bacteria die-off, but you should take your time adding more fish to give the bacteria time to grow to compensate for any additional load. __________________ 2 x Goldfish - $0.09 2 x Ghost Shrimp - $0.60 Look on wife's face when she found out how much I've spent on fish related gear this month - PRICELESS Heatware 164-0-0

04-15-2005, 06:06 PM	#8
flipz Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 719 Images: 1	let me throw in my 2 cents that 99.9% of the bacteria is living in your substrate, your filter, and other items in the tank. there is almost nothing floating in the water itself. use the water to fill up the new tank simply for the sake of saving water, but it won't do much for preventing a cycle. however like others said, by transferring your substrate and especially those cansiters (make sure you don't let anything dry out) you definetly won't have a problem with a cycle. you might get a mini-cyle, but nothing on a large scale. and tygger, from his description i would say he's moving everything into the 120. -brent __________________ Come join the Ohio forum on AA!

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04-14-2005, 01:12 PM	#2
thatonegirl Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 40	As long as you don't add any extra fish, you should be fine. Your cannister filters are carrying most of the BB from your old tank and your old bioload. Keep an eye on your params, as you may see a mini cycle from what BB you lose from your substrate, though.

04-14-2005, 07:00 PM	#4
Blucat Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 834 Images: 5	you will experience a mini cycle however where there only is an ammonia spike. you could use the same substrate maybe too?

04-14-2005, 07:15 PM	#5
xcuter Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: socal Posts: 17	both tanks are bare

04-15-2005, 08:47 AM	#6
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Cannister filters are excellent for establishing and maintaining an adaquate source of nitrifying bacteria. As long as you don't turn the filters off for more than a few hours, and use the water from your old tank, you will have no problem.

04-15-2005, 04:01 PM	#7
TygGer Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northern Va Posts: 475 Images: 1	Are you setting up a second tank or moving the entire livestock from your 60 to the 120?

04-15-2005, 07:24 PM	#9
TygGer Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northern Va Posts: 475 Images: 1	flipz, I agree. The bacteria is on the surface of the items in the tank and not free floating in the water column. If you are transferring everthing from one tank to the other and not adding any new fish, you shouldn't detect a cycle.