New big tank, how much media to jump start from small tank

I have a 45G planted tank with a Fluval 306 canister, cycled, working fine.

We just got a 220G tall tank that we will start up, planning for planted as well. The plan is to use two (maybe three) SunSun HW404B filters on it (i.e. tons of media space).

I think these may be too much flow to run in parallel on the 45G, certainly wouldn't run both at once. They (like all) don't match the specs, but is at least twice the Fluval (by eye), and my 45G is growing nicely and everyone is happy. So leaning against running in parallel, but might.

So here's the question -- how much media can I safely remove from the small tank filter to jump start the big? How fast does that bacteria reproduce? Can I take half out (say half the sponges and half the bio media)? That's still a small amount for the two filters in the new tank, is it enough to even do any good?

The alternative (but it means a delay) is I have a gallon of Matrix on order. I could remove a tray of floss from the small tank canister, and pack it with matrix, then let it cook in the small tank for a while. How long would it take to be confident it is infested properly with the right stuff? This is going to test my patience (since it took Amazon a week to even ship it and it's not here yet), but it seems like perhaps the best bet?

My main concern is to not screw up the small tank to jump start the big. If I have to, I can just want (a long time!) for the big tank to cycle naturally, but would rather jump start it.

PS. I have no idea what stock we will put in the big tank yet, that's yet TBD, but leaning toward schooling fish and a cleanup crew. Worrying first about aquascaping, just got big drift wood today, and starting to experiment with feather rock and whether I can make it sink.

PPS. I already removed one floss pad and about 10% of the media to start a 10G quarantine tank so we'd have it ready for new fish for the 220G, or more precisely I guess the second set of fish for it, the first can probably go straight in.

 

I don't know a lot about filters and all that about filters. but I know that you could stock it a lot of ways.a big fish or small fish oscars and guppies come to mind.

 

Anything you take from the small tank, may lead to a mini-cycle. If you have the time to wait on setting up the new tank, you could add as much media to the smaller filter as it will reasonably hold and take it out in a few weeks to help jump start the big tank.

Another thought, would be to add a couple of sponge filters into the small tank and, in a few weeks, either put them in the new tank, or cut them up and put them in the filters.

 

dont think about it dude, it will kill your fish in the small tank just wait for the tank to cycle like everyone else.

 

I know its a lot of media, but place it in the smaller tank for 4 weeks and just live with it. Or, you could just start a brand new cycle in the new tank

 

Taking out half your media would most likely cause a minI cycle. But what you could do is use Tetra SafeStart to cycle the tank.

If your not familiar with SafeStart and it use:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

Best of luck and feel free to ask any additional questions.

 

Taking out half your media would most likely cause a minI cycle. But what you could do is use Tetra SafeStart to cycle the tank.

I do know about Safestart, but I also understand it (and similar) get mixed results.

I appreciate the answer. Do you know the flip side of it. Let's say I put in new media (or replace some), enough of the original present there is no mini-cycle.

How long does the new media take to fully populate with bacteria?

 

hmmm I may be wrong and I'm not sure... But if you move the media to your big tank... are you going to be putting your fish in right away? Bc even if you do put the media in, it needs a source of ammnia to feed off to actually grow... although I'm guessing you already know that....

If you don't want to minI cycle, and just cycle out your large tank....

You could try, using Dr. Tims method. That is what I am doing. You get his "One and Only" nitrifying bacteria, and you can buy his Ammonia formula, and follow the instructions he does. If done correctly you should be able to cycle out your tank in a week.

I found his One and Only product at my Local fishy store, and bought a giant Ammonia bottle at ace hardware for under 3.00$. You might want to buy the larger bottle of ammonia being that your tank is massive so dosing might be easier bc Dr. Tims bottle is tiny.

A Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling - DrTim's Aquatics heres a link to his site to fishless cycling, Its faster to just watch the videos at the bottom.

this person on this forum had a saltwater, but it should virtually be similar bc he had some existing media in which he put into the new tank, virtually you might have a similar situation. But this link shows it works.

if you read further down in the post someone cycled their 225 gallon in a similar method, though does say... there is another product that can cycle you out in about 24hours or little longer, depends but I do believe there was a link to that resource.

hope this is helpful^^ just figured id throw it out there^^

 

Add a few sponge filters to the 45. Meanwhile (assuming there are no fish in the 10 gallon), start adding ammonia to feed the BB that you moved there. Add all the matrix when it arrives, either in one of the HW404's or just in a media bag in the tank.
When you set up the 220 with fish, move the sponges from the 45, and the media from the 10.
A minI cycle is always possible it depends on the demand on the BB determined by stocking, and the amount of media for the BB to fill.
Test both tanks and do water changes to keep ammonia/nitrites/nitrates in check. Any cycle goes much quicker with even a little seeded media.

 

Meanwhile (assuming there are no fish in the 10 gallon), start adding ammonia to feed the BB that you moved there. Add all the matrix when it arrives, either in one of the HW404's or just in a media bag in the tank.

Doing that already, just set it up yesterday, going to dose today to 2ppm. I have some baby snails in the substrate I also moved there, which I want to live (I actually have too FEW Ramshorn snails -- darn efficient ghost shrimp). But I have no clue if it will be cycled soon.

Add a few sponge filters to the 45. .....
When you set up the 220 with fish, move the sponges from the 45, and the media from the 10.
A minI cycle is always possible it depends on the demand on the BB determined by stocking, and the amount of media for the BB to fill.
Test both tanks and do water changes to keep ammonia/nitrites/nitrates in check. Any cycle goes much quicker with even a little seeded media.

So question... can I just add sponge in the tank, and not in plumbing? I'm fighting a losing battle with my canister filter there on flow rate, it keeps dropping (despite cleaning, cleaning, replacing the impeller cover, etc.). That's another whole story, but I may end up replacing it also later. But in the meantime I'm not too keen on reducing the flow further as my surface agitation is now half what it was when installed.

I.e. how much flow does BB need to develop and grow, versus just being there? For that matter, I could stick the sponges from the 404B's (at least a few of them) into the 45G and just let them sit there, if that would help for a week or so.

I'm hoping to get hardscape done in the 220 in the next 2-3 days, then planned to start filling while I work on plants (I'm going to make water directly into the tank, at maybe 30 GPD +/-, so it's going to take a while). My guess is I have 10 days before the new filters could be used. Would just sitting and cooking in the tank (not canister) for that time help?

 

By sponge filter, I meant the cheap air-driven ones. I usually keep a few running in my main tanks so I have a filter ready for QT/hospital if needed.
BB is best when there is a flow through it, but even sitting in the tank is some help.

Regarding canister losing flow, cut back on any fine pads or filter floss they clog the quickest.

 

Are you taking the fish from the 45 and putting those into the 220?

What kind of filter is on the 45?