could i do this instead of cycling the tank???

**squirt_12** · 11-03-2007, 05:38 PM

ok...say if i were going to go and buy a tank and set it up. Instead of going through the cycling process, could i just take the water straight out of my old tank and use that and not have to cycle it???

for example.
say i get a 10g...could i take about 9g out of my 33g and use that water and not have to cycle the 10g????

sorry if it sounds confusing.

**Kaga's Kritters** · 11-03-2007, 05:47 PM

no. the beneficial bacteria you need is in the gravel and filter and stuff. using the water from another tank really won't do much good. you can use the old filter cartridge out of your 33g to help speed up the cycle process in the 10 gal.

**Lady Hobbs** · 11-03-2007, 05:49 PM

Kaga is correct. Moving the water will do nothing.

What you can do is add some of that old gravel on top of the new and move the filter media over tho.

**Tolley** · 11-03-2007, 06:02 PM

Squirt that is exactly what i dun with my 5 gallon when my friend gave me 2 zebra danios, they lived but probably because they're so hardy.

Now i look back and relise how stupid i was. i suggest you do that but still cycle it.

**squirt_12** · 11-04-2007, 12:26 AM

ok...so if i were to just run the filter (off of the 33g) and add some of the old gravel (from the 33g) and the water...that would help speed up the process???

also i would have the new filter on there too.

thanks.

**Kaga's Kritters** · 11-04-2007, 12:28 AM

just take the old filter cartridge out of the filter on the 33g and put it in the tank. you don't need to move the filter and everything.

**squirt_12** · 11-04-2007, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Kaga's Kritters

just take the old filter cartridge out of the filter on the 33g and put it in the tank. you don't need to move the filter and everything.

o...ok...that would be ALOT better. lol.

so how much faster would it speed up the cycle???

**emma_421** · 11-04-2007, 12:32 AM

Yes. That would certanly speed up the process! I posted in another post that when my tank leaked, I put all my gravel, filters, and ornaments in buckets with water in them. Then 3 days later I put them in the new tank and it is like it never happened (still cycled). Also, my mom won a 5 gallon minibow in a raffle and I gave her my gravel and my filter and a few of my plants and vioala (spelling?) she had a cycled tank.

**squirt_12** · 11-04-2007, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by emma_421

Yes. That would certanly speed up the process! I posted in another post that when my tank leaked, I put all my gravel, filters, and ornaments in buckets with water in them. Then 3 days later I put them in the new tank and it is like it never happened (still cycled). Also, my mom won a 5 gallon minibow in a raffle and I gave her my gravel and my filter and a few of my plants and vioala (spelling?) she had a cycled tank.

ok...thanks so much....i think that i might be getting a 10g...but i am not sure....thats why i was wondering....lol.