How Soon Can I Move My Fish?

HI all! I have started a 28 gal bow front from my 10 gal., putting in some of the gravel and plants from the 10 gal. The 10 has two filters, one Aqueon and one Aqua Clear - I moved the sponge and media bag from the 10 AQ into the new AQ 70 in the 28 gal., hoping to start some good bacteria in there, leaving the Aqueon in tact. Thinking that would work, after a day, I moved over my bristlenose and a couple of nerites, thinking I could move them back if needed. Everyone seems to be doing well (feeding them algae wafer pieces and snail pellets) the tank has been going now for a week. How do I know if the tank is considered cycled and do I need to wait before moving over the tetras and shrimp? And if so, how long? I tested the water and of course all tests are 0. Should I wait until I see some nitrates show up or should it be considered cycled and safe to move the remaining stock? Thoughts and help greatly appreciated!

 

If you moved the filter media over you can start adding fish slowly. Maybe 2-4 every week. Keep monitoring the parameters.
Did you move all the media over?

 

Thank you for responding I'm still pretty new at this! I moved over the entire sponge and bio media bag from the AQ in the 10 gallon and then replaced it with new since I have the Aqueon filter that has been there since the beginning. Also, some of the gravel... I have 7 tetras to move over and some shrimp but thinking the shrimp will be later.

 

SO the 10 gallon has no old filter media? You completely replaced the 10 gallon filter media with new stuff? If so you just lost your cycle in the 10 gallon and I'd move all the fish over to the 29 gallon.

 

The 10 gallon has "two" filters. The Aqueon and the Aqua Clear. All the media is still in the Aqueon filter. I moved the media from the Aqua Clear filter. Is it ok to do that?