i just set up a new 10 gallon aquarium last night. i've been planning this for the past couple of weeks but didnt have the tank itself until a couple of days ago and didnt get the fish until last night.
so two weeks ago i put the smaller filter on my 38 gallon tank, in addition to the one i was already running, to allow the filter to cycle and develop bacteria. 3 days ago when i got the tank, i drew about 8 gallons of water off of my 38 gallon tank and put it in the 10 gallon tank. unfortanately i didnt have the gravel yet. i added the last two gallons of water and placed the filter on the tank and allowed it to cycle until yesterday when i place the gravel and then later most of the fish (all but the neons) into the 10 gallon. i moved some large decorative rocks from the 38 gallon into the 10.
it seems as though i have a near instant cycle at this point, but i wont know for sure for a couple of days. until then i am keeping the neons outta there.