Question Re: Cycling A Tank W/ Existing Media (another question)

[Deleted User]

When you are cycling a new tank using filter media from an established tank, do you base the amount of filter material to take on the number of fish, or the size of the new tank?

I'm thinking it's based on the fish going in, but am not sure.

What I'll be doing is moving my baby parrot fish into a 55g tank from the 20g they are currently in. I'm planning to take filter media actually out of 2 goldfish tanks where I've been seeding it longer. The mass of the goldfish in the tanks is much greater than that of the baby parrots.

So, does this filter media from the goldie tanks sound like it would be sufficient, or is it based on the tank size (which will be nearly 3x the size the parrots are currently in).

Thanks!

[Northernguy]

That should work great!
I cannot see a problem at all with that plan.
It should cycle just fine.
I add the media and wait an hour or two for the water to be run through the filter a few times and then add the fish.

[rich311k]

That should work fine. I have never seen any kind of how much media thread before. Once established the bacteria grows quickly. It is the getting established that takes all the time.

[Jaster]

I normally base it on the number of fish. But I normally use a whole well seeded sponge no matter what. I figure too much is better and what ever isn't needed will die off anyway.

When I seed a tank I have the new filter set up pretty much the way it will be for the tank and the seeded sponge is pretty much extra media. I would think as long as you have the correct filter for the size tank you have you should be fine there no matter what.

I think your plan will work fine.

[Crispy]

Your bacteria colony will adjust itself to the amount of bioload in the tank. So always use a bit more then you think you'll need and you'll be fine.