Mystic54

I have a 5.5 gallon divided betta tank in the process of being set up. I was wondering if I could successfully cycle this tank with a sponge filter? And if so how would I be able to do that as a fishless cycle?

Lucy

You can run the sponge filter in your established 20g for at least 2 weeks. That should allow enough bacteria to seed the new tank.
The longer you can leave it in the bigger tank, the better.

Tony G.

i agree with lucy, you seed the new tank almost emmidiatly

TedsTank

Yes indeed...sponge filters are excellent good bacteria builders. I would recommend that you follow one of our cycling "stickys".

Personally I would set it all up and sqeeze or rinse one of my other filters into the water of the new tank....the sponge filter will pull the bacterias into the sponge and colony's will begin growing. This will definately speed up the cycling process. Do partial water changes and add a bit of fish food for the bacteria to feed on. On that sized tank it should cycle bing-bang-boom!!!

Mystic54

Wow, thank you for all the quick responses.
Lucy, you are a genius. I didn't even think of that! What an excellent idea!
And thank you for your response as well, Ted, that is a great idea as well, I will keep it in mind for the future!

Lucy

Your welcome. When you add the new filter to the new tank and your fish just keep a close eye on your parameters for a couple of weeks.
Don't forget the pictures!

Mystic54

Well I haven't bought a sponge filter yet because all the ones I have seen take up too much space. I was wondering if I could take some sponge (like the sponge for the aquaclear filters) cut a hole in the center, and stick the bubble stone I have in it if that would be the same as a sponge filter?

TedsTank

Sorry but no...you need the lift tube...the large bubbles going up the tube push the filtered water out the top while pulling in water thru the sponge to be filtered..

Get the smallest sponge filter avaiable...Ive had to trim the clear lift tube even for my ten gallon fry tank. Cut about an inch off....I am not at all familiar with 5 gallon tank dimensions...sorry.

I also have regular filters and a sponge filter in 4 of my tanks....they are excellent. In my fry tanks the baby fish even feed on the filter surface one it is established.

aquarist48

Agreed! Great information above. Best of luck and hope you can share some photos once you're all set up.
Ken

Mystic54

Well thank you! I was pretty sure that I probably wasn't going to be able to cycle my tank that way, but I just wanted to make sure.
I never thought that you could trim up the filters so I will give that a try instead