eric_m

hey folks..
I understand that during cycling.. amonia builds up in the water via a live fish (wasnt recommended due to fish stress), using pure amonia, or fish flake or pieces of fish (preferably before you cook 'em)..
ok so the Amonia builds up.. then turns to nitrite.. then the nitrite turns to nitrate (all thanks to the bacteria) which is now safer for the fish..

Amonia ->bacteria converts to Nitrite -> bacteria converts to Nitrate

ok my question is

What happens to the cycle when you introduce the bacteria in the beginning.. like using a sponge from a friends fish tank filter..

You have the "good" bacteria.. the amonia hasnt built up yet.. so how does the cycle work??

capekate

Good question! While introducing media from an old tank.. you will still have to 'feed' your tank so that you dont loose that good bacteria via not having any ammonia for it to feed on.
Once you add fish, they continually produce ammonia, and your cycle will continue to produce the good bacteria from that source.

steveangela1

That is actually a "shortcut" way of cycling your tank, you need to add your fish to the tank, slowly to keep the ammonia going into the tank to go into the filter/tank. you can also use gravel from a friends tank