Can you accelerate cycling by using water from an established tank?

[Eric Ortega]

I set up a new tank a little while ago and am getting a bit annoyed with
the cloudy water. I was wondering if, instead of using the clean water I
get from my fish store to do water changes, it might be a good idea to use
water from my established tank. I was hoping to get some useful bacteria
in the process.

Basically, suck out 25% water from the new tank, fill from the old tank,
and then fill the old tank with the clean water from the store.

The old tank has been running smoothly for years with plenty of happy fish
in it. It's crystal clear and MOCKS the new tank for visibility.

[Steve]

Eric Ortega wrote:
> I set up a new tank a little while ago and am getting a bit annoyed with
> the cloudy water. I was wondering if, instead of using the clean water I
> get from my fish store to do water changes, it might be a good idea to use
> water from my established tank. I was hoping to get some useful bacteria
> in the process.
>
> Basically, suck out 25% water from the new tank, fill from the old tank,
> and then fill the old tank with the clean water from the store.
>
> The old tank has been running smoothly for years with plenty of happy fish
> in it. It's crystal clear and MOCKS the new tank for visibility.
>

It's generally accepted that the "good" bacteria adhere to gravel, tank
decorations and filter media. Putting some "old" established filter
media in your new tank's filter should help, as should adding some
gravel, decorations or plants from the established tank.
Steve

[Eric Ortega]

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:03:56 -0400, Steve wrote:

> It's generally accepted that the "good" bacteria adhere to gravel, tank
> decorations and filter media. Putting some "old" established filter
> media in your new tank's filter should help, as should adding some
> gravel, decorations or plants from the established tank.

Ok, I'll just put move some of the plastic plants into the new tank for a
while. The new tank has a sand bottom and the old tank has this garish
rainbow gravel, so that's not really an option, aesthetically. Both tanks
use Whisper filters, so I don't really know how transfer the filter media
around.

Thanks, both, for your responses.

[Gill Passman]

Eric Ortega wrote:
> I set up a new tank a little while ago and am getting a bit annoyed with
> the cloudy water. I was wondering if, instead of using the clean water I
> get from my fish store to do water changes, it might be a good idea to use
> water from my established tank. I was hoping to get some useful bacteria
> in the process.
>
> Basically, suck out 25% water from the new tank, fill from the old tank,
> and then fill the old tank with the clean water from the store.
>
> The old tank has been running smoothly for years with plenty of happy fish
> in it. It's crystal clear and MOCKS the new tank for visibility.
>

When I set up a new tank I use around 20% of water from an established
tank plus gravel plus filter medium. I use treated tap water
(chlorine/chloramine/heavy metals) for the rest of the water. Put in
plenty of plants. I've not had any problems with water clarity and very
few with nitrites/ammonia once the fish go in. I also make sure the
gravel is well rinsed before it goes in.

Gill

[Elaine T]

Eric Ortega wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:03:56 -0400, Steve wrote:
>
>
>>It's generally accepted that the "good" bacteria adhere to gravel, tank
>>decorations and filter media. Putting some "old" established filter
>>media in your new tank's filter should help, as should adding some
>>gravel, decorations or plants from the established tank.
>
>
> Ok, I'll just put move some of the plastic plants into the new tank for a
> while. The new tank has a sand bottom and the old tank has this garish
> rainbow gravel, so that's not really an option, aesthetically. Both tanks
> use Whisper filters, so I don't really know how transfer the filter media
> around.
>
> Thanks, both, for your responses.

Do you change the Whisper cartridges regularly? If you do, put a used
cartridge from the old tank into the new tank and put a fresh cartridge
in the established tank. You'll hardly see a cycle in the new tank. If
you never change cartridges, you might not want to do this because your
established tank may take a mini-cycle.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Steve]

Eric Ortega wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:03:56 -0400, Steve wrote:
>
>
>>It's generally accepted that the "good" bacteria adhere to gravel, tank
>>decorations and filter media. Putting some "old" established filter
>>media in your new tank's filter should help, as should adding some
>>gravel, decorations or plants from the established tank.
>
>
> Ok, I'll just put move some of the plastic plants into the new tank for a
> while. The new tank has a sand bottom and the old tank has this garish
> rainbow gravel, so that's not really an option, aesthetically. Both tanks
> use Whisper filters, so I don't really know how transfer the filter media
> around.
>
> Thanks, both, for your responses.

You could put some old gravel in a net bag, then into the new tank
temporarily.
Steve

[IDzine01]

I've done this very successfully too. If you don't want to replace the
new cartridge just give it a good swish in the new tank and return it
to the old one.

[Eric Ortega]

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 20:35:18 +0000, Elaine T wrote:

> Do you change the Whisper cartridges regularly? If you do, put a used
> cartridge from the old tank into the new tank and put a fresh cartridge
> in the established tank.

You know, I thought of this, but when I looked at the old cartridge I
realized that it really needed a changing. I wasn't too sure about using
it in the new tank so I just threw it away. Oh well. If it's still a
problem in a couple of weeks (which I doubt) I guess I can still do this.

Thanks for the tips. The "next time" I set up a tank I'll be a bit wiser.

[Dan Abel]

In article >,
Eric Ortega > wrote:

> I set up a new tank a little while ago and am getting a bit annoyed with
> the cloudy water. I was wondering if, instead of using the clean water I
> get from my fish store to do water changes

Do you pay for this water from the fish store? How much? I have never
heard of such a thing.

--
Dan Abel

Petaluma, California, USA

[Stokes]

I don't think your supplier would mind doing this for you. If you have
any mates that are aquarists, they could give you some for free.
I have also transferred some of my old media to the tank, in addition
to some of the gravel and water. I still get a considerable Nitrite
reading and I was wondering if anyone has any idea when it should be
completely cycled and ready for my discus. At the moment I have four
loaches, a yoyo, a zebra, a redtailed blue loach and a clown loach,
along with 3 dwarf gouramis and 8 assorted tetras. The tank is an
AquaH2O 300l with integrated triclke filter. Any opinions/advices are
welcome.

[CanadianCray]

I always put water from established tanks. Aswell as squeeze the old media
directly into the tank. It makes a huge mess but really gives it a boost.

"Stokes" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I don't think your supplier would mind doing this for you. If you have
> any mates that are aquarists, they could give you some for free.
> I have also transferred some of my old media to the tank, in addition
> to some of the gravel and water. I still get a considerable Nitrite
> reading and I was wondering if anyone has any idea when it should be
> completely cycled and ready for my discus. At the moment I have four
> loaches, a yoyo, a zebra, a redtailed blue loach and a clown loach,
> along with 3 dwarf gouramis and 8 assorted tetras. The tank is an
> AquaH2O 300l with integrated triclke filter. Any opinions/advices are
> welcome.
>

[Eric Ortega]

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:28:12 +0000, Dan Abel wrote:

> Do you pay for this water from the fish store? How much? I have never
> heard of such a thing.

Yeah, I pay for it. I think it's something on the order of $0.20/gallon.

[Flash Wilson]

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:52:19 -0700, Eric Ortega > wrote:
>I set up a new tank a little while ago and am getting a bit annoyed with
>the cloudy water. I was wondering if, instead of using the clean water I
>get from my fish store to do water changes, it might be a good idea to use
>water from my established tank. I was hoping to get some useful bacteria

Not much benefit from water, but if you have an established tank
then yes, you can seed the new tank and accelerate things.

http://www.gorge.org/fish/beatingcycle.shtml
describes how I did it in 5 days.


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