Help on starting the cycle for 30g tank

Byron

I would just exchange the filter temporarily; the old tank will be fine with the new filter as there is bacteria colonizing all surfaces in the tank and they will multiply to handle the loss of the bacteria in the old filter removed. In the new tank the old filter will bring bacteria with it. But this has to be done when the fish are added because the bacteria need ammonia and nitrite and it comes from fish.

Adding pure ammonia is OK if you know how to do it. I would go with the above in your circumstances. Then, after several weeks, exchange the filters back. Unless of course they each fit either tank.

B.

MalanoMan

sounds great but i wouldnt i be hurting the fish if i put them in the new tank with the old filter or would they be ok? and also there wouldnt be anything in the old tank so the new filter wouldnt really be cycling....would it?

Edit: wait so your saying even without fish, my tank is producing bacteria??????

Byron

The old tank stays as it is, except the new filter replaces the old one. The old filter goes on the new tank with one or two fish to get the cycle started using the bacteria in the old filter.

There has to be at least one fish in any tank to keep it going long-term.

MalanoMan

yes thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank youthank you thank you thank youthank you thank you thank youthank you thank you thank youthank you thank you thank youthank you thank you thank you

both byron and angel (sorry about your rummy's)

but thank you very much

Byron

Most welcome. Good luck. I'm off now for supper. B.

Angel079

Just really start easy on the new tank, like Byron said 1-2 fish not a whole school, that load would be too much for the beginning. So start easy and then go from there in a few weeks to avoid any casualties.