Setting up new tank - wait for cycling or direct changeover of filter to new tank?

"ck2" wrote in message
Instead of waiting for the 10g to cycle, can I just move everything over?
The filter is an AQ150. I can't move any of the substrate over since I've
moved to flourite in the new 10g (5g is sand/gravel).

Fill the tank with flourite, let it settle, add filter, add some water from
est. tank, and run for a week, clean filter cartridge, and you should be
closer to done than you think.... Moving just the filter, won't cycle your
tank overnight, but it'll speed the process.. you'll probably get the
initial bacteria bloom while your tank changes the ammonia to nitrate, then
when it falls back to 0, you're done..

Would moving the filter and as much water as possible over to the 10g be
enough to make an acceptably smooth transition for the fish? ie, would the
filter bacteria die/struggle/decline/whatever from doing this?

I've done this several times, without using the ammonia, and only had a
slight bacteria bloom, gone in 5 days...

....I've even tried taking one of the sponges out of the AQ150 AND some
gravel in a stocking and putting it in the 10g to help the
cycling....still 0 nitrites after 1.5 weeks. Using Kroger brand
clear ammonia.

Aren't you supposed to test for nitrAtes? I could be wrong, it might be
nitrItes....

This is where your method and other methods get blurred... If you use the
ammonia, you may _have to_ wait until it's cycled... If you hadn't used the
ammonia, you could have transfered the filter, most of the water, and let it
run for a day, maybe 2, then it'd be practically done...

Not sure if I've helped or confused the issue.... to me, you might be trying
to blend two methods of cycling, and that may not help, it may just
exasterbate the lenght of time it takes to cycle....

NetMax, where are you????? hahahaaa!!!

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