Seeding a New Tank

[Madame_X]

I have a question about seeding a tank from another tank.

Let's say I'm going to set up a new tank. I understand I could add a new filter as a secondary filter to my existing tank and let it build up a bacterial colony, then move it to the new tank in a few weeks.

Here's my confusion. As the new filter builds up a bacterial colony, there would be less food available to my existing colony. In theory, some of my existing bacteria would die off as the new colony develops. So when I remove the second filter to put it in the new tank, I would only have half the bacteria to support my bio-load. Doesn't this put my existing tank at risk? Or will my original bacterial colony reproduce quickly once the food supply is increased and pick up the load?

Am I just overcomplicating this? Or is there in fact some risk when using this method to seed another tank?

 

[sweetsuvvyb]

Well, i don't have any specific references, but bacteria definitely proliferate at very high rate...so I don't think it would really be a problem....you might have a little mini-spike in the existing tank...but probably not anything significant.

 

[Zic]

I would think that your original tank will be ust fine.

I seeded my new tank by taking one piece of gravel from the old tank and putting it into the new tank. It was cycled in about a week and a half.

You are correct in that you will not have the same amount of bacteria once the filter is removed, but sweetsuvvyb is correct that they grow at a fantastic rate. You (and your tank, haha) will be just fine.

The only time removing bacteria medium would present a problem is when you are first cycling your tank. Once it's fully cycled, you have bacteria on your tank sides, any decorations you have, the gravel, the filter intake, the heater. You will not have a problem, trust me.

 

[Allivymar]

Makes sense. I change my filter completely every month or so, and I know its full of bacteria. But since I have the Bio-Wheel, I don't see any changes in ammonia/nitrite levels.