Fishless tank cycle question

Hey so I am trying to start a cycle of my new 30 gallon tank. The tank is completely empty except for my substrate filter and heater.
I want to do a fish less cycle and I was wondering if I could take my old filter media from my 10 gallon tank and squeeze it or put it into my new tank and would that cycle it? I’m new to cycling tanks and have never done this before so I’m sorry if it’s a dumb question I just have never done a fish less cycle before.

 

You don't want to squeeze it, But you can take the old cartidges, and any other filter media, and put them in the filter anywhere that they will fit. Or, even better - you can just run the ten-gallon filter in the new tank with the new filter. In some cases, the new tank could be instantly cycled for at least a small amount of fish. But it is more likely that you will have a mini cycle, where the new filter catches up to the new conditions and water volume. water tests will be needed to confirm or deny the cycle. It is important not to rush things!

 

You don't want to squeeze it, But you can take the old cartidges, and any other filter media, and put them in the filter anywhere that they will fit. Or, even better - you can just run the ten-gallon filter in the new tank with the new filter. In some cases, the new tank could be instantly cycled for at least a small amount of fish. But it is more likely that you will have a mini cycle, where the new filter catches up to the new conditions and water volume. water tests will be needed to confirm or deny the cycle. It is important not to rush things!

I can’t move the other filter in to this tank since it’s the only filter in my current tank which is a 10 gal community which is where I’m actually moving the fish from into my new tank when it’s ready.
should I just move the cartridge and put it into my filter in the 30 gal? And what else should I do to get a cycle going I’m new to a fish less cycle

 

I would just go ahead and move the cycle and the fish over to the new tank instead of fishless cycling the new tank. Just move everything including the water and the fish over to the new tank. Everything in the 10 gallon tank has bacteria on it so the more you move to the new tank the better it will be.

There is no bacteria in the water but it is the water your fish are used to. By moving the water from the 10 gallon to the 30 gallon your fish will just feel like they got a big water change. You will still need to keep an eye on the parameters in the new tank just in case of a mini-cycle. Should it happen it shouldn't last more than a few days. The bacteria lost in the move should be quickly replaced.

If you plan on adding more fish to the bigger tank be sure it is stable before you do. When adding them just add a few at a time to allow the bacteria time to catch up with the higher bio-load after each addition.

 

Are you moving the fish from the ten-gallon to the 30? if you are, you can just move the fish and the filter, and start testing the water like a fish in the cycle. This may be risky, But I have had good luck every time I have done it. It is pretty much what I have always done, it's known as cloning the filter.

Make sure you do not clean the filter cartridge for a month or longer before the swap, you want it to have the highest amount of bio bacteria possible. same with the filter box, especially if you plan to take the cartridge out. and still, use it in the current tank.

Many suggest bacteria in a bottle, I have never used it, I cant help you with that or suggest a brand, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

You can ask a friend with aquariums for biomaterial "used filter media", you can ask pet stores for it. "not as safe"

 

Are you moving the fish from the ten-gallon to the 30? if you are, you can just move the fish and the filter, and start testing the water like a fish in the cycle. This may be risky, But I have had good luck every time I have done it. It is pretty much what I have always done, it's known as cloning the filter.

Make sure you do not clean the filter cartridge for a month or longer before the swap, you want it to have the highest amount of bio bacteria possible. same with the filter box, especially if you plan to take the cartridge out. and still, use it in the current tank.

Many suggest bacteria in a bottle, I have never used it, I cant help you with that or suggest a brand, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

You can ask a friend with aquariums for biomaterial "used filter media", you can ask pet stores for it. "not as safe"

I am going to move the fish from that tank over ya. I already have a different filter set up in my new tank though, and my 10 gallon tank filter is only meant for tanks 10 gallons or less. Could I just use both for a month or so and then there should be enough bacteria in the new one? I also want to set up and decorate my new tank with live plants before I put any fish in it.

I would just go ahead and move the cycle and the fish over to the new tank instead of fishless cycling the new tank. Just move everything including the water and the fish over to the new tank. Everything in the 10 gallon tank has bacteria on it so the more you move to the new tank the better it will be.

There is no bacteria in the water but it is the water your fish are used to. By moving the water from the 10 gallon to the 30 gallon your fish will just feel like they got a big water change. You will still need to keep an eye on the parameters in the new tank just in case of a mini-cycle. Should it happen it shouldn't last more than a few days. The bacteria lost in the move should be quickly replaced.

If you plan on adding more fish to the bigger tank be sure it is stable before you do. When adding them just add a few at a time to allow the bacteria time to catch up with the higher bio-load after each addition.

I already have my new tank filled with water. And I also don’t want all the decorations in my old tank into my new. I want the plants but I want to rescape them and decorate the tank before I put any fish in.

 

Yes exactly, use the old filer for about a month, test the tank to be sure you have zero ammonia, zero nitrites. After that, remove the ten gallon filter, but stuff any filter media and used filter cartridge into the 30-gallon filter, you should be good, I would test it in a week. I would leave the extra media in the filter permanently.

 

Yes exactly, use the old filer for about a month, test the tank to be sure you have zero ammonia, zero nitrite. After that, remove the filter from the ten, and any filter media, and stuff it in the 30 gallon filter, you should, be good, I would test it in a week. I would leave the extra media in the filter permanintly.

Okay only problem is is my 2 filters are completely different. One is a CN-s which is a corner filter so the cartridge is really big and weird shaped while my new filter is an aqueon quiet flow 30. So I’m not sure how that will fit into my new filter. I really like this idea tho I want to make it work it sounds like it’ll make my life a lot easier lol