[partobe]

Hi Everyone!
I'm think about purchasing a nano tank. Not sure what size yet or what I might put in it. Im thinking maybe the pygmy puffer or some shrimp or some small shrimp depending on size.The question I have is I have 40 gallon thats been up for about a year and a half now. My question is if I take water from my tank and fill the nano with that water will my nano still need to Cycle? Im hoping by duing it that way I can add what ever I want the day I buy the tank?
Thanks
patrick

 

[VivaDaWolf]

Majority of bacteria live in the substrate or the filter media. Not much in the water, so it...really won't do much if you move the water. However, if you are able to move some filter media, you should be set for light bioload critters.

 

[partobe]

Thanks vivadawolf . I can take a scoop of soil. I have a bag of active carbon I haven't used ill place it in my filter until I get the tank would that work?

 

[Diana]

Anything you place in the current tank, in the filter or the tank can start growing some bacteria. It won't grow much in a short time, but if it will be several weeks until you set up the new tank, and the new tank is a lot smaller, then that amount of bacteria would probably be a great way to cycle the new tank.

Bacteria will live on activated carbon. I just save it for an emergency, though.
Add any sort of sponge, floss, lava rock or bio media to the existing tank as a media for the bacteria to grow on.

 

[partobe]

Thanks Diana
I'm going on a fishing trip with my buddy Ryan on Jan 7th so it will have a few weeks. I don't see me going over 25 gallon if that I don't have much room. I have several pieces of lava rock in my tank. Do they need to be moved to the filter or are they okay just sitting in the tank?

 

[VivaDaWolf]

Sitting in tank is fine. Make sure you transfer it from tank to tank, not letting it dry out or washing it in chlorinated water.

 

[partobe]

Thanks vivadawolf. Will do I also put some active carden in my filter just now.
Thanks for the help

 

[acitydweller]

You can jump start the colony with a few products. Dr tims, special blend/ nite outii, tetra safe start were a few recommended which have the nitrospira type of beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank. Moving plants from an established tank and increasing plant density will help tremendously. Mosses generally don't do much in terms of speeding up the nitrate cycle however bringing a thick thatch from an established tank will likely carry the enzymes and biofilm cultures needed in the new tank as well.

Consider the tank full of mini cycles where each must run it's course to colonize. Also, retrieve only the top.5" of gravel if you are transplanting it from an established tank. Aerobic bacteria only lives that far down so no need to go deeper unless you were after the mulm. Good luck.

 

[partobe]

Thanks acitydweller. I'll pick up Dr toms if they have it. The lava rock I have, have java ferns on them so ill be transfering rock as well as plants with them. I was just going to put a small scoop or two of soil but thanks for the heads up ill only scoop from the first inch