Starting a second tank? Is media enough?

I set up a 10G. I have an established 30G with 6 danios, 5 catfish, 2 platys and 2 ottos. I have put the media for the new tank in the old tanks filter for 2 weeks. If I move the media to the new tank will it automatically be ready for fish?

 

It may take longer than 2 weeks. A month maybe safer. But yes in theory if fish are added the same time as the cycled media the new tank should be cycled instantly. Not a certainty depending on bioload and make sure you check parameters and water change if necessary.

 

I set up a 10G. I have an established 30G with 6 danios, 5 catfish, 2 platys and 2 ottos. I have put the media for the new tank in the old tanks filter for 2 weeks. If I move the media to the new tank will it automatically be ready for fish?

Moving over biomedia will make the tank ready for the number of fish that the nitrification capacity of said biomedia will provide. If the nitrification capacity conferred by the piece of biomedia is not very robust, it may only be enough to seed the tank with nitrifiers, and take time to cycle. Or it may be enough to allow fully stocking the tank at once.

While it is very difficult to estimate the nitrification capacity of a transferred piece of biomedia (affecting factors include size of biomedia, how long it has been established, what type of biomedia it is, how much other biomedia there is, what type of nitrifier was established, at least). We know the biomedia was in the old tank for two weeks, okay. But other factors would not be as clear, or even easily determined. With that said, it is very easy to test the nitrification capacity once transferred over though. If you have access to pure ammonia, just dose it to 2ppm and see how well it is processed.

 

Thank you for the replies! I am not sure what I am going to put in the tank yet but I plan to add slowly. I do have a tiny bit of ammonia left from when I cycled my other tank over a year ago. I will test before a put a fish in and leave the media in a bit longer.

 

I tried it in a new tank, and it doesn't seem to have done any benefit.

 

I tried it in a new tank, and it doesn't seem to have done any benefit.

What makes you say there was no benefit? Have you added fish or another source of ammonia to the new tank?

 

What makes you say there was no benefit? Have you added fish or another source of ammonia to the new tank?

Fish in cycle. Have added various pieces of sponge, biomedia, and muck (from media and sponges) from a larger established tank. Almost 20 days now and I'm approaching 1 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates as of today.

 

Fish in cycle. Have added various pieces of sponge, biomedia, and muck (from media and sponges) from a larger established tank. Almost 20 days now and I'm approaching 1 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates as of today.

wait, what size tank and how many fish? Have you done any water changes?

 

wait, what size tank and how many fish? Have you done any water changes?

It's a Fluval Flex 15 gallon. Currently has a guppy, several rasboras, and a bunch of plants. Only did one water change so far due to an injured shoulder. Do you think that's stalling the transferred media?