3gallon Starting Cycle.

Hello Everyone
I just got my 3 gallon tank in the mail. It came with a filter, the filter cartridge and the a sponge to also put in the filter. I have 2 already cycled tanks so could I put the filter cartridge and sponge into the already cycled filter? How long would it take to allow the bacteria to grow into the new filter and sponge?

Thanks !

 

2.5 weeks to a month. I usually put in like a living thing to hav it get use to animal matter and waste. Wut r u stocking it with? Yes, u can put a cartridge and sponge into an already cycled tank but u hav to take the cartridge and sponge somewhere

 

You can take some media from the filters of your already cycled tank and essentially have an "instant cycle".
You'll want to add an ammonia source (i.e. pure ammonia) to test the cycle. Make sure you test the water regularly to see that your ammonia and nitrites go down and nitrates appear.
I did this with my 55 gallon and it was fully cycled right away.

 

Okay thank you. I'm only stocking it with one betta. So would it be okay to essentially put the 3 gallon carbon filter and sponge filter into the back of my HOB 55 gallon already cycled filter?

 

I took my filter floss from my cycled tank and put it in my new 5 gallon as part of the media. I am on day 10 and had +nitrites today. So it should only be another day or so. I had a hiccup at around day 6. Basically had to start over. I also have been dosing with stability at the same time.

 

Okay thank you. I'm only stocking it with one betta. So would it be okay to essentially put the 3 gallon carbon filter and sponge filter into the back of my HOB 55 gallon already cycled filter?

If u add substrate, u could even house shrimp, but that's just me being the suggestive guy I am. I personally don't think that there'd be a negative to adding the sponge to the already filtered aquarium so it gets cycled with a couple days.

 

If u add substrate, u could even house shrimp, but that's just me being the suggestive guy I am. I personally don't think that there'd be a negative to adding the sponge to the already filtered aquarium so it gets cycled with a couple days.

Okay great thank you! I might have to add shrimp now! Thanks for the idea haha