MeGustaUnaPez926

What is the best way to seed a new tank using old filter media without cutting up the filter sponge and stuff? Could I go and just stick another filter on the back of my 20, then if I need to seed a tank, just move the whole thing, or would the new filter with no bacteria hurt my fish. I would leave the current, cycled filter on there too.

sgould

Yes, you could do that and it should work fine.

MeGustaUnaPez926

Cool, thanks.

Butterfly

Yep works great that way. Also a hand full of gravel from a cycled tank helps a lot .
carol

agabr123

you could also consider just adding extra filter media (an entire new cartridge/mesh bag) into your filter (if you have room), and then when you need it just removing the entire thing rather than having to cut pieces

pepetj

I have cycled a brand new tank using a well seeded filter (kept for a month in a healthy tank) as well as plants, driftwood and substrate (borrowing some from three different tanks) in FOUR days! However, I did this a second time and it took SIX days.

Some variables (likely water temp, I used no heaters on both tanks but the first was "seeded fishless cycle with ammonia solution" with tank temp around 82F and the second around 78F) might explain the difference, nevertheless it's a short time don't you think?

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Butterfly

It was a short time Keep an eye on them. But it can be done if you have enough extra bacteria to share.
Carol