Seeding new tank - Aquarium Advice

Tifta · 07-01-2008, 03:27 PM

I got a friend that is buying a 55 gallon tank. He's been watching me with my fish tanks for awhile and wants to get started on his own. I haven't done this myself but was wondering about this method. If I take out one of my old filter sponges and give it to him to put it in his new filter will that help the cycling process? I have a ten gallon tank that needs a new sponge so was gonna give him my old one for bacteria. I guess I would place the seeded sponge behind the new filter sponge in the 55 gallon tank?

rich311k · 07-01-2008, 03:32 PM

Absolutely. it will give his tank a nice head start. Make sure it stays wet the whole time and that it gets more ammonia within 24 hours or the bacteria colonies will start dieing off.

Tifta · 07-01-2008, 03:39 PM

He has it running with two fish right now, and it's been about 2 weeks, you think he might have enough ammonia not to kill the bacteria ? I guess he would have to do a test though, he already has Hornwort and Anacharis to help out.

rich311k · 07-01-2008, 03:54 PM

That sounds perfect give him the sponge. The fish will provide all the food it needs.

SpeedEuphoria · 07-01-2008, 04:26 PM

On this subject since I'm rather new, dont you want to put a new filter pad/sponge in while the old one is still there so you dont have another cycle?

meegosh · 07-01-2008, 04:38 PM

Usually with well established tanks changing the filter media doesn't necessarily mean you will have to re-cycle the tank. If you change ALL the filter media at the same time and do some major gravel vacuuming you may experience a mini-cycle.

Back to the original post, anything that you can give him out of your tank will be beneficial in getting his cycle going. For example, when I just started my 30gallon I squeezed two used filters from my 10gal into it and let the stuff settle, then turned on the filter in the 30 gal. Then I let one of the used filter pads sit on the bottom for a few weeks, and the other I cut up and put in my new filter(hob). I also added a few plants and decor from the 10 gal. I only experienced a mini cycle by using this method with 4 neons in it from the start.

It's been over a month and everything is perfect in the tank, used filters and decor have been removed. HTH

Tifta · 07-01-2008, 04:55 PM

good to know I will probably give him some of my gravel too and some decorations. I have my fish guy that cleans the tanks here. He said the black carbon holds some bacteria on it but not the pads? I don't know if he knows what he is talking about.

dskidmore · 07-01-2008, 05:50 PM

Not true. Anything the bacteria can stick to they will. Every surface is good for that. Now the carbon may have more surface area than the pad, but the pad does have some space for bacteria to grow.

Tifta · 07-02-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dskidmore

Not true. Anything the bacteria can stick to they will. Every surface is good for that. Now the carbon may have more surface area than the pad, but the pad does have some space for bacteria to grow.

I thought that! I am gonna steal the carbon from one of the tanks here at work and seed it at my friends. hehe Is water from another cycled tank good to throw in?

rich311k · 07-02-2008, 11:40 AM

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

07-01-2008, 03:27 PM	#1
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 239	Seeding new tank I got a friend that is buying a 55 gallon tank. He's been watching me with my fish tanks for awhile and wants to get started on his own. I haven't done this myself but was wondering about this method. If I take out one of my old filter sponges and give it to him to put it in his new filter will that help the cycling process? I have a ten gallon tank that needs a new sponge so was gonna give him my old one for bacteria. I guess I would place the seeded sponge behind the new filter sponge in the 55 gallon tank?

07-01-2008, 04:38 PM	#6
meegosh Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 389 Images: 2	Usually with well established tanks changing the filter media doesn't necessarily mean you will have to re-cycle the tank. If you change ALL the filter media at the same time and do some major gravel vacuuming you may experience a mini-cycle. Back to the original post, anything that you can give him out of your tank will be beneficial in getting his cycle going. For example, when I just started my 30gallon I squeezed two used filters from my 10gal into it and let the stuff settle, then turned on the filter in the 30 gal. Then I let one of the used filter pads sit on the bottom for a few weeks, and the other I cut up and put in my new filter(hob). I also added a few plants and decor from the 10 gal. I only experienced a mini cycle by using this method with 4 neons in it from the start. It's been over a month and everything is perfect in the tank, used filters and decor have been removed. HTH __________________ 10g - 13 Guppy Fry \| Plants: Java Moss & Amazon Swords 30g Long - 6 Neons, 5 Diamonds, 4 Peppered & 2 Albino Corys, 1M/2F Guppies, 1 Upside-down Catfish

07-01-2008, 05:50 PM	#8
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,261 Images: 1	Not true. Anything the bacteria can stick to they will. Every surface is good for that. Now the carbon may have more surface area than the pad, but the pad does have some space for bacteria to grow. __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

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07-01-2008, 03:32 PM	#2
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,825 Images: 35	Absolutely. it will give his tank a nice head start. Make sure it stays wet the whole time and that it gets more ammonia within 24 hours or the bacteria colonies will start dieing off.

07-01-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 239	He has it running with two fish right now, and it's been about 2 weeks, you think he might have enough ammonia not to kill the bacteria ? I guess he would have to do a test though, he already has Hornwort and Anacharis to help out.

07-01-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,825 Images: 35	That sounds perfect give him the sponge. The fish will provide all the food it needs.

07-01-2008, 04:55 PM	#7
Tifta Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 239	good to know I will probably give him some of my gravel too and some decorations. I have my fish guy that cleans the tanks here. He said the black carbon holds some bacteria on it but not the pads? I don't know if he knows what he is talking about.

07-02-2008, 11:40 AM	#10
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,825 Images: 35	Water contains no nitrogen fixing bacteria they attach to hard surfaces.