BB in gravel

[VioletEmber]

Long story short, but I am starting a "new" tank using the same substrate. It was a nicely planted tank but I wanted to switch to sand. So now I have all this gravel and I'm going to refill the tank and start cycling a new filter. I know filter media is what really helps the cycle, but how much, if at all, will using "pre-used" substrate help.

 

[librarygirl]

It's hard to really quantify it; at the very least it won't hurt and it might help some. Try putting some in a mesh media bag or clean nylon stocking and putting it directly below the filter intake tube. What are you doing with the old filter? If you're not going to use it you could just put the filter media into the new filter and instantly cycle it.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

It wont hurt. Just make sure it stays wet. If it drys out the BB will die. And if you could even run the old filter on the new tank a few hours would be better then nothing.