Seeding new tank - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

Tifta · 07-02-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich311k

Water contains no nitrogen fixing bacteria they attach to hard surfaces.

good to know, I did threw a rock and some gravel in his tank.

new2betas · 07-11-2008, 06:38 AM

My question is along the same lines as this one so I thought I would post it in here.....I would like to move along the cycling of my new 10g tank that I got for shrimp. I took an old smaller filter out of my 2.5 g tank and put it in there....just because I knew the female betta wouldn't like it in the smaller tank probably and I wanted a source of bacteria for my new tank. That is ALL that is old in this tank. Everything else is new...so, no bacteria. I am not using a hang on back filter with this tank when it gets the shrimp...I am using a sponge filter (on the way from Drs. Foster and Smith). Since my older 10g tank is well established could I possibly put in a new cartridge/sponge in that tank and take the older one out of it and lay it in my newer 10g to get the seeding process going? Does this make any sense? I don't want to have a mini cycle on my older/established 10g, but I would like to kick start my cycling on my newer 10g. I don't have anything to put the older cartridge in since I am not using that type of filter on my newer tank, so that is why I just wanted to lay it in the bottom of the newer tank. Can I do this to kick start the cycling?

new2betas · 07-11-2008, 11:01 AM

I just remembert that my lfs sells preowned filters that they have running in their tanks in their store. Would this be a good option instead of taking mine out of the other 10g tank? Also, since I am having that snail problem in the established tank I am not sure I want to take the chance on getting snails in the tank I am cycling now.

Tifta · 07-11-2008, 11:10 AM

I would get a pre established one from the store. It works great to have a seeded filter in. My friend has gotten his cycled a lot faster from using a filter pad. I would stick the used on into your filter so that it can grow bacteria in your filter, and throw in some used gravel in also. If you want to not mix your gravel that you already have in your tank take pantie-hose and put gravel in and tie and let sit on bottom. Are you doing a fishless cycle?

new2betas · 07-11-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifta

I would get a pre established one from the store. It works great to have a seeded filter in. My friend has gotten his cycled a lot faster from using a filter pad. I would stick the used on into your filter so that it can grow bacteria in your filter, and throw in some used gravel in also. If you want to not mix your gravel that you already have in your tank take pantie-hose and put gravel in and tie and let sit on bottom. Are you doing a fishless cycle?

I can't stick the used filter into my newer filter because they aren't the same kind of filter....that is why I asked if I could sit it on the bottom of the tank....but I think I have decided to get a used filter from the lfs and hang it on my tank.

yes, fishless cycle...thanks for the idea about used gravel. I will see if the lfs will let me have some of that too!

Tifta · 07-11-2008, 11:30 AM

Make sure that you get some ammonia in there because the good bacteria will die without ammonia, and your filter from the lfs will be no good.

new2betas · 07-11-2008, 11:30 AM

I am also putting in ammonia

Tifta · 07-11-2008, 11:38 AM

Then it sounds like you are all set to go. :P if you got plants or rocks from your other tank put those in as well.
Oh if you are getting a filter pad from lfs make sure to keep it wet all the way home, a zip lock bag should do it with some of the water. You don't want your bacteria dying on the way home from drying out.

new2betas · 07-11-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifta

Then it sounds like you are all set to go. :P if you got plants or rocks from your other tank put those in as well.
Oh if you are getting a filter pad from lfs make sure to keep it wet all the way home, a zip lock bag should do it with some of the water. You don't want your bacteria dying on the way home from drying out.

I was a little nervous about taking anything out of my pre-existing tanks because I didn't want it to hurt its cycling process. Plus, I am having a snail problem in my 10g that is established and don't want to risk introducing snails into my new one.
I have some plants coming to me from some of the wonderful members on here though...I will use those in my new tank.

Tifta · 07-11-2008, 12:20 PM

If you got a snail infestation try this:

The idea is to lure the snails onto a piece of food they like and then pull them out. A slice of cucumber is my personal weapon of choice. You can leave cucumber in your tank without worrying about it contaminating the water. Some people also use lettuce and soften it first with hot water. Weight down the slice of cucumber or piece of lettuce in the bottom of the tank at night. By the morning, you should have collected a colony of hungry (or "licorish") snails. Remove the cucumber or lettuce and discard the snails. It's worth a try.

07-11-2008, 06:38 AM	#12
new2betas Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 943	My question is along the same lines as this one so I thought I would post it in here.....I would like to move along the cycling of my new 10g tank that I got for shrimp. I took an old smaller filter out of my 2.5 g tank and put it in there....just because I knew the female betta wouldn't like it in the smaller tank probably and I wanted a source of bacteria for my new tank. That is ALL that is old in this tank. Everything else is new...so, no bacteria. I am not using a hang on back filter with this tank when it gets the shrimp...I am using a sponge filter (on the way from Drs. Foster and Smith). Since my older 10g tank is well established could I possibly put in a new cartridge/sponge in that tank and take the older one out of it and lay it in my newer 10g to get the seeding process going? Does this make any sense? I don't want to have a mini cycle on my older/established 10g, but I would like to kick start my cycling on my newer 10g. I don't have anything to put the older cartridge in since I am not using that type of filter on my newer tank, so that is why I just wanted to lay it in the bottom of the newer tank. Can I do this to kick start the cycling? __________________ Dottie - I'm Pisces - that explains EVERYTHING!

07-11-2008, 11:01 AM	#13
new2betas Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 943	I just remembert that my lfs sells preowned filters that they have running in their tanks in their store. Would this be a good option instead of taking mine out of the other 10g tank? Also, since I am having that snail problem in the established tank I am not sure I want to take the chance on getting snails in the tank I am cycling now. __________________ Dottie - I'm Pisces - that explains EVERYTHING!

07-11-2008, 11:30 AM	#17
new2betas Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 943	I am also putting in ammonia __________________ Dottie - I'm Pisces - that explains EVERYTHING!

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07-11-2008, 11:10 AM	#14
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 242	I would get a pre established one from the store. It works great to have a seeded filter in. My friend has gotten his cycled a lot faster from using a filter pad. I would stick the used on into your filter so that it can grow bacteria in your filter, and throw in some used gravel in also. If you want to not mix your gravel that you already have in your tank take pantie-hose and put gravel in and tie and let sit on bottom. Are you doing a fishless cycle?

07-11-2008, 11:38 AM	#18
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 242	Then it sounds like you are all set to go. :P if you got plants or rocks from your other tank put those in as well. Oh if you are getting a filter pad from lfs make sure to keep it wet all the way home, a zip lock bag should do it with some of the water. You don't want your bacteria dying on the way home from drying out.

07-11-2008, 12:20 PM	#20
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 242	If you got a snail infestation try this: The idea is to lure the snails onto a piece of food they like and then pull them out. A slice of cucumber is my personal weapon of choice. You can leave cucumber in your tank without worrying about it contaminating the water. Some people also use lettuce and soften it first with hot water. Weight down the slice of cucumber or piece of lettuce in the bottom of the tank at night. By the morning, you should have collected a colony of hungry (or "licorish") snails. Remove the cucumber or lettuce and discard the snails. It's worth a try.