Cycling with old bio-wheel

[lmw80]

I have the biowheel from the 2.5 gallon I had on my desk for four years. I took it out before I packed the tank up because I knew I would have another tank on my desk again.

Problem is, I let the wheel dry out. Do you think when I fill my new 6 gallon, if I put the old biowheel from the 2.5 in, it would help boost the cycling process? Or should I resort to old fashion method?

 

[neilanh]

If it dried out, the bacteria colony that was living on there is now dead, and so it won't be beneficial to your new cycle at all.

 

[lmw80]

that's what I thought, but I had read somewhere that even dried out biowheels held the bacteria.....oh well...thought I would try, lol

 

[Zagz]

Always a good thought but I agree it won't work. Surely there is someone close to you that could send you some media? If I lived anywhere near you I could send you enough to kickstart a 150 gal!

 

[lmw80]

Well, I do have active biowheels in a couple of my tanks at home, but I don't know if I want to give up the biowheel in a tank for a couple of weeks. Two of my tanks at home have a sand substrate, the only one with gravel is the 46 gallon. I suppose I could put some of that in a nylon....