Butters

Hey, I have some big plans for getting a new tank and starting over in my 20 gallon. I'm getting a 20 long and want to know how to keep the bacteria alive from the filters while I get things set up and stuff becuase I might take all the fish back and start over. Thanks!

soldieroffortune1974

As anything living,the bacteria need to eat. The bacteria need ammonia.

The same as cycling an aquarium,just add ammonia to the water,and everything will be good.I am assuming you are leaving the filter and airstones on the aquarium as well.

angelfish220

make sure its pure ammonia, you can get it at the hardware store. and not alot, a couple of drops.

aecw

We had to move a 150 gallon a couple of months ago and I just took the filter off, put it in a plastic bag to transfer it home. then I just hung it on a spare 10 gallon we had and fed the water with regular fish food - just a little every day til we had the 150 reset up. It took about a week to reset up the tank and everything worked beautifully!

pepetj

I want to clarify on the "pure" term due to common confusions. Most of us refer to "pure ammonia" when we talk of "pure ammonia solution", that means ammonia diluted in distilled water without added chemicals. That is what is easily available at grocery stores.

If you look for literally pure ammonia (99.99% ammonia) you won't find it since it is manufactured and sold only to authorized laboratories. This is a dangerously corrosive chemical.

Not that I am correcting Angelfish220 here, just clarifying a common confusion.

Soldieroffortune1974 suggestion is exactly what I do to keep my tanks cycled when no fish is in them: I feed them with ammonia solution daily as I keep everything else running. Remember to determine the proper dosage for your tank to get at least 4ppm a few minutes after you add it. Don't overdose -say 8ppm or higher- or your beneficial bacteria could suffer -mostly the ones that brake down nitrites into nitrates.

Another option would be to feed your tank with a bit of fish food as if you had some fish in it.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

kigroy

i'm on board with the fish food technique, especially if you don't aren't comfortable with the ammonia, and since you have only a 20 gallon you won't have to go through lots of fish food.

also, just a tip, put the fish in cup or bowl at the bottom of the tank, that way when you add the new fish all you have to do is remove the bowl and all the waste food will be gone.

but all are good suggestions...

soldieroffortune1974

The reason I don't like the idea of using fishfood,is that most foods are high in phosphates,the breaking down of the food releases these phosphates into the water.

on a note about the bowl,and removing the wastes,if the bacteria is a good enough colony,there wont be much wastes to remove.

kigroy

no argument here...

SnaKiZe

raw shrimp in pantyhose works fine!

lyndatu

Put the bacteria-filled filter foam in a large jar or basin with water from your current 20-gallon tank. Add 3-5 drops of pure ammonia(to check if it's pure, shake the bottle and if the bubbles disappear immediately, it's pure ammonia.) a day and provide an airstone in the jar/basin. If you can't find pure ammonia, you can use a small chunk of raw fish or shrimp as suggested above. Bacteria need ammonia for their food and oxygen to live. If your new 20-gallon tank is ready, put the filter foam in the filter and continue to add ammonia to the tank until it's fully cycled(it might take a day or two). Good luck!

soldieroffortune1974

to check if it's pure, shake the bottle and if the bubbles disappear immediately, it's pure ammonia.)

OR..........just look at the label