Dark_Rider2k3

Okay I had a quick question for when I eventually fill up my 55gal and set it up..

If I use the filter for my 55 in my 30gal for a week before I set the tank up, and then put some of the gravel from my 30gal into my 55 when I set everything up, will I still need to cycle the tank?

I will probably be getting BioSpira from my LFS, but i'm just curious if i'd need it or not...

thanks a lot everyone!!

pepetj

Hi Dark Rider: Like that idea more than Bio-Spira.

You will "seed" bacteria in the 55gal filter, that should buy sometime. I'm doing that exactly as we speak, I have one AquaClear 110 running for a week now in a 29gal for my coming 145gal (one of three HOB).

Why spending in BioSpira or any other stuff if you could get your fishless-cycle done in a few days? it pays to be patient, spend that money in another tank (e.g. a nice quarantine tank? another test kit?)

You could buy more time by placing some substrate (hanging it inside your new tank in a "nylon pocket" -made from a new pantyhose).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

COBettaCouple

Seeding your 55g from the 30g like that should drastically cut down the time for it cycling. It may not be cycled right away, but depending on how much good bacteria is brought over, it could be a matter of days instead of weeks.. maybe even 1-2 days.

You just don't want to throw the 30g into a mini-cycle by taking too much gravel out. You may even consider putting gravel that's meant for the 55g in the 30g after it's been throughly cleaned (in a pantyhose sock or netting bag, etc). Then you'd just be able to move that gravel over easily without upsetting the 30g too much.

BioSpira would make it all easier, but you could do this without it and I'd expect the 55g to be ready pretty quickly.

Dark_Rider2k3

that was my plan (using a netting bag to put some of the gravel from the 55gal into the 30).

I was also not planning to take out a lot of gravel from the 30.. I was only going to take a very small portion so that it wouldn't go into a mini-cycle.. and I would monitor the levels..

BioSpira was my first choice, but then I realized I could probably do it, and use my 30 as a seeder..

thanks a lot CO!!! That helped me out a lot!

COBettaCouple

No problem. Sounds like you're ready for that 55g to have the first addition of fish in about a week & a half.

Another thing to do is to get extra filter sponges for your 2 tanks. Every filter we have running has a bunch of extra filter sponges in it. It makes setting up new tanks pretty quick and easy. And I'm sure your MTS will see you having more tanks soon enough.

Evelyn1919

just remember that after putting all the filter media and gravel in your 55g tank while there is no fish in it you need to feed the bacteria with ammonia so you need to put some fishfood or something in it so that the bacteria doesn't starve.

good luck!

Dark_Rider2k3

@ CO:

I'm almost ready for fish. I am real close to giving up on the stains, and right now i'm filling it back up to see what it would look like with a black background. If the hard water is very noticeable, i'm going to try some more methods to remove it... but if it's not that noticeable, I may just leave it and scrub the tank out with mildly hot water to get all the chemicals out of the tank...

thanks for the tip about extra sponges! I'll get some later this week or next week.

LOL at the MTS.. It is affecting me .. but they are just so fun to watch.. and when I see the Mollies that my friend is keeping at the moment for me, they are CUTE.. at fist they didn't ignored each other and just ate algae and stuff.. but every so often I see them play... not a lot but i see it..

@ Eveyln:

I won't forget that I'll probably feed it with fishfood or ammonia.. going to see how much ammonia I have left (as I have a TON of fish food)