New tank CYCLING

[jack1988]

Im picking up a new tank tomorrow.

Cycling is obviously the first thought that springs to mind, I shall be keeping similar fish to the ones in my current tank.

My question,

How greatly will cycling be reduced if I use water from my mature tank?

(my mature tank is due its 25% water change)

thanks.

[rich311k]

Water contains llittle or no bacteria, move a sponge from the filter or some gravel.

[jack1988]

Ahhh, I knew I was forgetting one vital part, thanks.

Eventually the older tank will house green spotted puffers :D

[bushwhacker]

rich nailed that one water will do basically nothing for you but a nice chunk of media from your established filter and some gravel will help a lot. you still have to feed the filter so a few small hardy fish or ammonia will be called for. if you got a tank now you have test kits i assume so check it regularly and do your water changes as needed

[Mith]

Ahhh, I knew I was forgetting one vital part, thanks.

Eventually the older tank will house green spotted puffers :D


Green spotted puffers....if they're the puffers I think they are, they'll tear each other appart! They are fin nippers!

I recently saw some at my lfs and everyone of them were torn to shreds!

[bushwhacker]

really depends on tank size and places to hide but all i know of em is they can squabble.i had one in with some mbuna once he did fine but not a good place for him

[jack1988]

ive read that some puffers can prove quite a bit of hassle, the dwarf puffers seem alot "easier" to keep than other species.

About the new tank,

ill introduce some of the bacterial colonies into the water (via the filter media of the mature tank), roughly how long shall this take to complete the cycle?

[rich311k]

ive read that some puffers can prove quite a bit of hassle, the dwarf puffers seem alot "easier" to keep than other species.

About the new tank,

ill introduce some of the bacterial colonies into the water (via the filter media of the mature tank), roughly how long shall this take to complete the cycle?

Depends how much you add. Add enough for the bioload and it would be an instant cycle.

[wynnEZ]

Sounds like you have everything under control, good luck on your tank!

[Padams]

It's a balancing act. You have to leave enough to handle the current load but take enough to "cycle". One thought is split your current tank for a couple weeks to keep both colonies strong and then add both back and new slowly to allow filters to keep up.