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Hello, just a quckie ....

I've just got a new tank with built in filter (it's about 6g) can if I fill it up with water from my 130g tank how long will the take to cycle?

Would the filter be ok instantly? or in hours? or a day?

Also what about substrate? will it make any difference if I use gravel from an existing set up or brand new?

thanks.

Using water from an established tank won't help. Adding some cycled gravel from the other tank can cut the cycling time in half. Unless you are using a filter with media that has been run on the other tank for a few weeks, lots of gravel from a cycled tank, or biospira expect the tank to take a week or 2 to cycle.

justicerulesok
The advantage of the old water combined with the substrate from your 130g tank will certainly help. I also suggest run your new filter in the 130g tank as well. Also use a Bio starter (I use Sera) this will place a good strain of bacteria in the new tank.

As far as time by doing all the above it will cut the time down also use 1-2 small starter fish A piece of floating water sprite will also speed things along.

Keith

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The problem with the water is that the bacteria lives on surfaces which is why the suggestions of gravel, filter media, even tank ornaments are often given.
If you haven't access to cycle or biospira you can try squeezing the filter floss/sponges from the established tank over the floss/sponges of the built in filter as that will transfer some of the bacteria from the old to the new.

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How about this...

I put the filter media in an established set up for a couple of days (I can't run the filter as it's "built in" to the new tank).

I then set up the new tank with gravel & water & a couple of guppies from the same existing set up & put the media into filter & run it.

This new tank was a gift. It will go in my bedroom when its decorated (so I'm not doing it just yet) & will home 3 dwarf puffers.

It has a built in filter & light & I have a small heater/therostat I can put in...will i need an air stone?

Thanks for all your help :-)

Anita.

If you can rob some of the old filter media from a cycled filter, your new tank will be instantly cycled.

Used water from an existing system will help also as the DS or dissolved solids level will be condusive to feeding the bacteria.

If the bacteria doesn't have enough Ammonia or nitrites it will back off. If it has more than it needs it will increase until it can keep up.

Good luck, hope this helps.
Mermaid