Upgrading tank question

Hello,

I've had fish for a number of years, but I'll admit I'm not well versed in the fine details. Basically I can keep hardy fish/plants alive, but never gone into anything more difficult.

Currently I have a 20 gallon high tank with panda corys that's been running for at least 2 years now. They've been breeding so I've opted to upgrade the tank to a 36g bow front (chosen because that's what my stand is actually for).

The current tank has substrate, a piece of drift wood, and 2 varieties of live plants.
The new tank will have the same kind of substrate but new from bag, the same piece of drift wood, 3 new types of live plants and undecided on whether I'll move over the current live plants as well.

I have purchased a new sponge filter, but my current sponge filter is still good and going strong.

My question: If I move over the drift wood and the same filter (2 sponges on the filter), perhaps even the same plants - what am I looking at in terms of tank cycling? I've read a fair bit indicating the tank could be "instantly cycled" and be "safe" considering the bioload would remain the same (I'm not adding any new fish or removing any fish, it'll be the same pandas in the current going into the new). But I've also read that this is called "seeding" which has the possibility to reduce the cycle time, but the tank still needs to cycle.

My HOPE is that I can do it all in one solid swoop as I live in a small apartment so I'm not living with a lot of space, but since I'm reading conflicting information I felt it be best to reach out for more direct help. I, of course, plan to do water tests and whatnot before anyone actually moves but I'm trying to do my best to be proactive in understanding an estimated time frame because I'm lacking space.

 

I’d add a bio booster to your plan but I’ve done something similar to get several tanks up quickly.
Main tank Filter material, bio booster, stability (I don’t consider it the same thing personally, and even some of the main tanks water. I usually let that all sit for 24 hours.
Test it and keep an eye on it but so far of all my issues in tanks, cycling doesn’t seem one of them.

 

You should be able to do an instant cycle. Can I get a pic of your current tank? I wouldn't get another sponge filter if I were you. I'd get a HOB. I love aquaclear. A AC50 or AC70 would be good.

 

Your "cycle" only has to do with your filter media. Substrate, plants, etc., don't have anything to do with it. Yes, there is SOME beneficial bacteria on everything, but its not important. As long as you move your current filter and its media over, you're good to go. DO NOT chuck your old sponge and replace it, you will lose your cycle.

"Seeding" refers to taking something with some BB on it and putting it in the new filter to jump start the cycle. In my canisters I have bio balls. If I took a handful of those and put them in a new canister on a new tank, that would be "seeding". It doesn't give an instant cycle.

What you should do is get a couple 5 gallon buckets. First, get your new substrate rinsed and in the new tank. On your running tank, unplug everything, put your sponge filter and heater in a bucket, then add your plants, driftwood, etc. Now fill each bucket with tank water. Remove enough water from your current tank so there's only about a couple inches of water left. Pick the tank up and set it on the floor. Put your new tank on the stand. Take your bucket of water and pour it into the new tank. Now set up your filter, heater, plants, etc. Pour that buckets water in. Get some new water, condition it, etc., and get the tank filled to 80% capacity. If you're going to move substrate from the old tank over, scoop some of the old tanks water into an empty bucket, then put the fish in it. Now remove all the old substrate, put it in the new tank. Once you have the substrate the way you want it in the new tank, dump the fish in. Plug in your heater and filter and you're all set.

Its a little overwhelming if youve never done it, but its really super simple. No worries.

Again, DO NOT toss your old sponge. Make sure it goes into the new tank to keep your tank cycled.

 

I’d add a bio booster to your plan but I’ve done something similar to get several tanks up quickly.
Main tank Filter material, bio booster, stability (I don’t consider it the same thing personally, and even some of the main tanks water. I usually let that all sit for 24 hours.
Test it and keep an eye on it but so far of all my issues in tanks, cycling doesn’t seem one of them.

I have some liquid called "Colony - professional grade nitrifying bacteria" says that it rapidly cycles the tank. Is that what you mean by a bio booster, perhaps? I can add water from the current tank easily, too! Thank you!

You should be able to do an instant cycle. Can I get a pic of your current tank? I wouldn't get another sponge filter if I were you. I'd get a HOB. I love aquaclear. A AC50 or AC70 would be good.

The camera on my phone is busted, so any picture would be too blurry to matter. I don't want a HOB filter, personally. I've used my sponge filter for years and I love them - I initially got them because I have a desire to add shrimp one day, but I've just yet to do it.

Your "cycle" only has to do with your filter media. Substrate, plants, etc., don't have anything to do with it. Yes, there is SOME beneficial bacteria on everything, but its not important. As long as you move your current filter and its media over, you're good to go. DO NOT chuck your old sponge and replace it, you will lose your cycle.

"Seeding" refers to taking something with some BB on it and putting it in the new filter to jump start the cycle. In my canisters I have bio balls. If I took a handful of those and put them in a new canister on a new tank, that would be "seeding". It doesn't give an instant cycle.

What you should do is get a couple 5 gallon buckets. First, get your new substrate rinsed and in the new tank. On your running tank, unplug everything, put your sponge filter and heater in a bucket, then add your plants, driftwood, etc. Now fill each bucket with tank water. Remove enough water from your current tank so there's only about a couple inches of water left. Pick the tank up and set it on the floor. Put your new tank on the stand. Take your bucket of water and pour it into the new tank. Now set up your filter, heater, plants, etc. Pour that buckets water in. Get some new water, condition it, etc., and get the tank filled to 80% capacity. If you're going to move substrate from the old tank over, scoop some of the old tanks water into an empty bucket, then put the fish in it. Now remove all the old substrate, put it in the new tank. Once you have the substrate the way you want it in the new tank, dump the fish in. Plug in your heater and filter and you're all set.

Its a little overwhelming if youve never done it, but its really super simple. No worries.

Again, DO NOT toss your old sponge. Make sure it goes into the new tank to keep your tank cycled.

Thank you for your reply - that is very well explained, and I truly, truly appreciate it! I was not planning on chucking the old sponges at all - my plan was, since they have 2 sponges each, to put ONE current sponge onto the new filter in the new tank and then after it was all said and done, simply have an extra filter lying around BUTTTTT if I can do it in one solid swoop, then I can put the current filter as a whole in the new tank and just set aside my brand new filter as a just-in-case-back-up.

I will follow your instructions to a T. Again, thank you for the time you took. You made it very easy to follow.

 

You are welcome, and it is super easy like I said. Just a little overwhelming if youve never done it before.