55 Gallon Tank Starting 55 gallon question

I am finally setting up my 55 gallon tank. But got a question for you guys.

I have a 10 gallon tank with two sponge filters rated for 10 gallons each. If I take one of those out and put it in my new 55 gallon that will pretty much make the tank cycled right? I know the one filter won't be enough to maintain the tank but I can put normal filter on and just keep the fish down to 3-4 guppies until the main filter cycles also right?

I know it might take a few weeks for the main filter to get the bacteria but this does work right?

 

It could work but it might be slow. Before you put any fish you might want to test the water out with a test kit. You might want to ask the LFS to see if they have any filters ready so you can start the cyle.

 

yes that will work.
an you are right, the bigger filter will still take time to cycle.
what type of filter are you looking at?

EDIT: ninjaed

 

Thanks for the info guys



I have been using the sponge filters on my 10 gallon betta tank for months and it has been working great. So I am thinking of getting a bigger one for the 55 gallon tank.

I am thinking of doing mostly guppies and maybe dinos in the tank with a lot of plants. I have some in my betta tank and they really make the tank look nice

 

The problem is that a filter rated for a 10 gallon tank will not move enough water thru the filter media to keep the ammonia levels down.

You would be better off just putting the filter media from the 10's filter into the 55's filter.

 

My thinking is with the 10 gallon filter won't keep a 55 gallon clean but with only 3-4 guppies the ammonia level won't build up faster than the small filter could keep up. And while its doing that the larger filter would get cycled. But I could cut the small filter and place it inside the bigger one.

 

He is not talking about using the 10 gallon filter, but rather the filter media within. Take it out and put it in the 55 gallons filter. This is moving the bacteria from the filter in the 10 to the filter in 55, to jump start the cycle.

 

Was just wondering why you wish to use a sponge filter on your 55g--I've nothing against sponge filters other than they aren't as adaptable as HOT power filters, plus the latter offer a greater flow rate and current within the tank.
Another advantage could be that your LFS might be able to hear your pleas for old media if you are in the process of buying something from them---rick

 

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He is not talking about using the 10 gallon filter, but rather the filter media within. Take it out and put it in the 55 gallons filter. This is moving the bacteria from the filter in the 10 to the filter in 55, to jump start the cycle.

Think he is talking two sponge filters; if not, disregard my previous post, and I'll go for a nap-rick
Post#4, I believe, but perhaps I am misreading it.

 

Sorry for being unclear. I have two filters in my betta tank it is cycled and has been running for 6 months. With the 55 gallon starting I was thinking I could move one of the filters into the 55 gallon tank. This would bring all the bactira over kicking off the cycle. I know a small filter won't keep the large tank clean so I would have to add another filter.

I didn't think about it but I could put the media from the cycled filter inside the new filter making it cycle faster and only use the one filter.

I know some people don't like the sponge filters but I really like what I have seen out of mine.

 

Okay at first glance I was like what the heck??? I think I get it now. You are taking one sponge filter out of the 10 and placing it in the 55. You are also taking the cycled media from the 10 and placing it in the 55 to speed up the cycle process. You do tend to add a HOB, canister a bit later because you do know that the 1 sponge will not keep the 55's parameters in check. Did I get it right? If so then yes this method will expedite the cycling of the 55. However, before you stock more than the 4 guppies you will need a good filter as in a HOB or canister to handle the bio load of the tank.

 

Okay at first glance I was like what the heck??? I think I get it now. You are taking one sponge filter out of the 10 and placing it in the 55. You are also taking the cycled media from the 10 and placing it in the 55 to speed up the cycle process. You do tend to add a HOB, canister a bit later because you do know that the 1 sponge will not keep the 55's parameters in check. Did I get it right? If so then yes this method will expedite the cycling of the 55. However, before you stock more than the 4 guppies you will need a good filter as in a HOB or canister to handle the bio load of the tank.

That is 99% right. The only difference is I'm thinking of using a sponge filter rated at 60 gallons and not a HOB filter. I know a lot of people like those and I have a few that I'm not using.

Just got back from the LFS and the owner made a good point. If I only have a few guppies in the tank they won't produce enough waste fast enough so my bacteria could starve before the other filter gets cycled.

 

"Cycled" is when the bacteria is of enough quantity to remove the ammonia produced by the bioload of the inhabitants of the aquarium. It will be cycled to 4 guppies if that is what you put in it, excess bacteria will die off, but it is cycled. When you add more to the bioload(More fish) the bacteria will grow to size. Large changes result in blooms, we refer to these as mini-cycles. The biggest issue I see you running into is a stagnant area of your tank from the inability of the sponge filter to circulate the water. The bacteria will only grow to deal with the ammonia that gets cycled through the filter, the area that is not being cycled will build up decaying material(waste) and higher ammonia.