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Hey just a quick easy question.. just checking if this is correct..
i can cycle a 2ft by seeding the filter in an already established tank for a week and use the established tanks water on the 2ft to skip the cycle??


r0b3y

r0b3y,

IMHO, I think that should be fine.
What kind of fish will you add to the tank right away?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

yeh thats how i do it but just to be on the safe sid i normally put in 2 mollies for about 1 week

Good luck

I'm cycling my 2ft tank right now with similar method, except I don't use my established tank water (don't want to transfer all the gunk from it). I ran the new filter in my established tank for a week, and put some of the gravel and plants in the new tank. Then I did the fishless cycle with pure ammonia. It's been a week and a half now and I'm at the nitrite peak ATM. I expect another week or so before it's fully cycled. So not as fast as I had hoped, but definitely much faster than starting new (my established tank took over 2 weeks to reach nitrite peak, 4 weeks total). Good luck!

-P

the tank will be used just to raise some young cardinal tetras to go in my larger tank.. dont want them to be eaten by my large angel.. and then hopefully used to breed some BNs.. thinking either peppermints or albino ..

i may just do a fishless cycle since i did it on my 3ft and only took 2 weeks.. i'll try it out with guppies first since the cards are delicate.. we'll see how i go..
thanks for the help

r0b3y

Hi,
Actually you are not "skipping" the cycle, but rather
trying to jump start, or shorten it.
Seeding the new filter in the parent tank is an excellent
start. Mixing some of the old water with the new is also
a normal practice, as is taking a cup of gravel skimmed
from the surface of the parent tank and spreading it
on the new.

However, you still need those "seeds" to spread throughout
the new tank before it is ready for the desired fish.
Additionally, you need to have fish in the new tank to
contribute to the feeding of the developing colonies
(or add some ammonia).

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 29-Jun-2005 07:39

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

yup..do agree with frank..ur shortening it...by seeding...but not totally skipping it..unless u fill up the new tank with water from the established one and move the filter as well.