Fishless cycle or seed from existing tank?

1331 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by jellopuddinpop, Apr 8, 2017

jellopuddinpop

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2017

Hi Everyone,

I’m working on setting up my new 125 (journal here).

I'll be breaking down my current 90G when I finish setting this one up, and I’m wondering if transferring my bio-media from my current filters to the new FX6 will provide adequate BB, or will I encounter a mini-cycle?

I only wonder because I don’t know just how much BB I’m going to lose from the substrate. I won’t be adding any bio-load from what I currently have, or at least not at first. Would you do a fishless cycle on the new tank before making the change, or just seed with the existing media and keep an eye on it?

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Dman911

· #2 · Apr 7, 2017

jellopuddinpop said:
Hi Everyone,

I’m working on setting up my new 125 (journal here).

I'll be breaking down my current 90G when I finish setting this one up, and I’m wondering if transferring my bio-media from my current filters to the new FX6 will provide adequate BB, or will I encounter a mini-cycle?

I only wonder because I don’t know just how much BB I’m going to lose from the substrate. I won’t be adding any bio-load from what I currently have, or at least not at first. Would you do a fishless cycle on the new tank before making the change, or just seed with the existing media and keep an eye on it?

Definitely both if it were me. Just make sure that you run it until you move it over. BB need oxygen and food to survive so if you have no stock then add some ammonia. Once you move it put in 4ppm of ammonia and if your ammonia is 0 after 24 hrs your good. Just make the necessary water changes to bring ammonia, nitrite and nitrate down to good levels.

Dan

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clownplanted

· #3 · Apr 7, 2017

jellopuddinpop said:
Hi Everyone,

I’m working on setting up my new 125 (journal here).

I'll be breaking down my current 90G when I finish setting this one up, and I’m wondering if transferring my bio-media from my current filters to the new FX6 will provide adequate BB, or will I encounter a mini-cycle?

I only wonder because I don’t know just how much BB I’m going to lose from the substrate. I won’t be adding any bio-load from what I currently have, or at least not at first. Would you do a fishless cycle on the new tank before making the change, or just seed with the existing media and keep an eye on it?

As @Dman911 said both would be good just to be safe. I find that most like 90% of the BB will be in your filter so that should suffice without having to do a fishless cycle. Adding a bit of ammonia and if it clears and nitrite also shows 0 then you are good.

I had a AQ HOB that I was using in addition to my Fluval FX4 on my 60 gallon. I setup a new 10 gallon and put the AQ HOB media in the new filter for the 10 gallon. It was immediately cycled thanks to this as I tested Nitrite and Ammonia which read 0 the next day. It also helps a great big deal by having plants in there from the start. Let us know how it goes.

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Freemananana

· #4 · Apr 7, 2017

I did both myself. I transferred some seeded material and then dosed ammonia. Better to be safe than wonder in my experience. You'll likely not encounter issues with just transferring the bio material though.

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jellopuddinpop

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 7, 2017

I'm just not sure how to do this though. If I take the media out of my existing tank, what do I do with the fish? Leave them in unfiltered water for a couple of days?

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clownplanted

· #6 · Apr 7, 2017

jellopuddinpop said:
I'm just not sure how to do this though. If I take the media out of my existing tank, what do I do with the fish? Leave them in unfiltered water for a couple of days?

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You could safely remove 75% or so from existing and put in new filter in new tank. Then in new filter fill rest with new media. This will be more than enough. This way they are not left without the media. That is how I have and would do in your case.

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Dman911

· #7 · Apr 7, 2017 (Edited)

I would take half of the media and replace the missing in the old with new media. essentially split your media 50/50 and fill each using new media. This will ensure both tanks have BB and the bacteria colony will regrow to the necessary amount rather quickly. End result both tanks should be fully cycled and ready to go in under a week if not a day or 2.

Added: @clownplanted suggestion of 75% may be better as the old tank will have BB in substrate and everything else in the tank.

Dan

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clownplanted

· #8 · Apr 7, 2017

I'm getting the Sera siporax media which many claim is the best as far as holding onto and and most direct area for the BB to colonize. In fact it even comes with the BB that you simply dose the new media with and in theory instantly being able to cycle a new tank. I am going to test this out on a new tank and see the results by adding 4ppm ammonia and testing nitrite and ammonia levels next day. Very interesting that media is. http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product...d=PLA_G_6194&gclid=CN_AvM_5ktMCFUOXfgodG_cH0g

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PlantedRich

· #9 · Apr 8, 2017

When moving fish to a larger tank, I move the existing media and also do some hedging. Fish don't need to eat as much as we feed, so one way to avoid a spike is to fast the fish for several days before the move and feed sparingly for the first several days after the move. This cuts bio-load both before and after the move. But it pays to watch for ammonia by testing for a few days.
But then there are several ways to deal any ammonia spike that might happen. Water changes can often do fine for small, short term spikes--- if we are aware. One big thing that is different with an established filter as compared to a new set is that the bacteria are there and really jump up to meet a new load much. much faster than the month long deal to start. a spike of days rather than a month as we have both types already on board and ready to multiply where in the new we can't get the second group growing until we get the first! User new tank water to reduce the pollution if it is where you can match the water good. No value in old water from a bacteria standpoint.
Thinking of it as a factory?
New factory, we have to bring in and train first shift before we can train second shift.
For expanding a factory, we have first and second shift trained but we may not get full production for a few days so we cut back on how much we expect of them.

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jellopuddinpop

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 8, 2017

PlantedRich said:
Thinking of it as a factory?
New factory, we have to bring in and train first shift before we can train second shift.
For expanding a factory, we have first and second shift trained but we may not get full production for a few days so we cut back on how much we expect of them.

That's a great way of thinking about it. Thanks for the visual, it helps!

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