Chrisson

I am probably going to get a 4.6 gallon aquarium and I wanted to cycle this as quick as possible! I'm thinking of getting water from my 10 gallon tank and fill the tank with it. Then get a handful of gravel and add it into the new aquarium, after that squeeze the content of the sponge in my filter to the new tank. The gravel will likely contain waste which will start a cycle and contain useful bacteria as well, the sponge will have waste and bacteria as well and the water will have good bacteria.

My 10 gallon does not have any inhabitants with disease. There was one death with a unknown disease but it is likely not contagious because non of my other fishes have died and the death had been 2 or 3 months.

So does this seem like a good plan? Should I try looking for tetra safe start? I don't have much money so I try to buy little as possible.

Flyfrod

Sounds like a good plan, should help to jump start the cycle. As far as TSS, it wouldn't hurt but not a needed.

midnightwolf

great plan, im going to do that if i get another tank. thanks

Blub

Good plan! The water you may as well add dechlorinated from the tap - virtually no nitrifiying bacteria live in water, choosing to live on surfaces instead.

Lucy

Agreed. It'd be better to use fresh (dechlorinated) water.
As blub said, you wouldn't be transfering bacteria, but nitrates.

Shawnie

also, just squeezing the filter media I dont think is enough to sustain an instant cycle...just cut off some of the media.....go with fresh water..and any subtrate and decorations from your established tank...just be careful not to take too much or your established tank will go into a mini cycle....for anyone with already established tanks, put some extra filter media/sponge/floss in your established tank filters...one never knows when MTS hits us and you will always have established media on hand for that purpose!!

MizRamzi

This is how I've started my last 3 tanks. Using filter media/gravel/water from my 1yr old 75g. The cycling was cut in half if not more. I had no unwanted spikes in water chemistry. Matter of fact I've taken to keeping extra media in one of my filters on my 75 for just this reason.
Good luck with your new tank.

Chrisson

Well it seems that I just broke my own plan. I added new dechlorinated water but I did add some gravel from my 10 gallon and got the sponge and squeezed it in. I was wondering if bacteria only live on surfaces of things can't you stir the gravel to get them swimming around the water and then scoop it up?

Also the deal came with a 2 gallon aquarium as well! I don't know what to do with it though because I'm already planning to put a betta into my 4.6 gallon I got.

dancerhas

I've cycled 5 tanks starting with the original media from one 30 gallon tank. IMO there's no better way to do it than cut a chunk of cycled media and deposit it behind the fresh media in the new filter. Then all that's left is adding a fish or two.

Blub

Why don't you use the 2gal as a quarantine/hospital?

Also, I forgot to add in my first post: whatever you do DO NOT assume that adding filter media and gravel from an established tank means instant cycle. ALWAYS check that the filter really is working properly by adding fish food and testing to see your results for at least 3 days before adding fish. I learnt that the hard way, at my beloved Betta Malachai's (R.I.P.) expense.

Chrisson

It should be used as quarantine but I'm giving it to my friend's betta because the tank it is currently in isn't very big. For quarantine I'm going to use a plastic tub with all the equipments of course. I don't want to use the 2 gallon as quarantine because it came with a under gravel filter, I'm not sure if it is suitable for quarantine and I can't add other filters other than that.

Also instead of fish food I used fish poop. I'm not adding a betta yet until it is for sure fully cycled.

TedsTank

how did you pottytrain your fish...LOL

Blub

Good cause for that tank! Just make sure your friend keeps it maintained properly.

Chrisson

Yeah he's a good fish keeper I'm sure he would. He is a member in this forum but doesn't hang around much.

Blub

Cool. A lot of people make me sick wit hthe way they treat their Bettas... Acctualy not bothering to fed them, and I once heard of someone having 'too much work' from him so they dumped him in a mud puddle thinking they were releasing him into a natural habitat!

Chrisson

Wow that's very hard to believe.

Blub

As I said - it;s something I heard and hoprfully not true!