Cycling a 5g to put into a 10g?

I'm upgrading my 10g to a 20g high, so I'm just going to switch over the bio bag and the water from that. I'm also going to set up the newly empty 10g though right after. I was thinking I'd starting cycling my 5g tank now and transfer the bio bag and water to the 10g when I move everything over. Maybe add a nerite snail or two to the 5g after a few days if that would help? Would this all work out fine? I haven't had two tanks set up before.

 

Mabye you can use the 5g as a cycling box where you put tons of lava rock and a strong filter and make a tiny hillstream with some Amano shrimp and cycle lots of lava rocks you can take out and put in a bag!

 

Mabye you can use the 5g as a cycling box where you put tons of lava rock and a strong filter and make a tiny hillstream with some Amano shrimp and cycle lots of lava rocks you can take out and put in a bag!

I've been looking at adding lava rocks! Need to read more about them though.

 

I'm upgrading my 10g to a 20g high, so I'm just going to switch over the bio bag and the water from that. I'm also going to set up the newly empty 10g though right after. I was thinking I'd starting cycling my 5g tank now and transfer the bio bag and water to the 10g when I move everything over. Maybe add a nerite snail or two to the 5g after a few days if that would help? Would this all work out fine? I haven't had two tanks set up before.

yup that would work out fine, your 20 will instant cycle with media from the 10 provided your bioload doesnt change too much and you can for sure cycle media in your 5 while you wait. i wouldnt do a fish-in cycle with invertebrates but once its cycled you can absolutely stock a couple snails in there to keep things going

 

They are pretty much just normal rock if you put flow over them, and aerate the water bacteria will thrive

 

yup that would work out fine, your 20 will instant cycle with media from the 10 provided your bioload doesnt change too much and you can for sure cycle media in your 5 while you wait. i wouldnt do a fish-in cycle with invertebrates but once its cycled you can absolutely stock a couple snails in there to keep things going

Okay I'll wait on the snails!

 

Here goes the 5g cycle...
(Considering putting that little tower and plant in the 10g when it goes up to help fill out the planted aquarium a bit since a lot of the plants are young still. When I get them, I'll add whatever sort of lava rocks or whatever else that'll end up going into one of the two tanks. If anyone has plant suggestions or more information about lava rocks please let me know.)