Preparing for a new tank

Monsterpony

I recently purchased a 75 gallon tank that I plan on transferring the fish from my 55 gallon into. I won't be getting the tank for at least a week, but I want to prepare for the cycling process in hopes of shortening it. Right now I plan on transplanting one potted plant and two pieces of driftwood, but not the gravel or filter. Is there anything that I can place in the 55 gallon tank now that would be good to move the good bacteria colonies for establishing a healthy tank? Something that the bacteria would flourish on?

bettababy

Aquarium safe sponges such as put over intake tubes or in filters, and a filter media called biomax. Tufa and lava rock also would work, but it would take more than a week to seed them decent. Any floss or filter fiber will also work well. AquaClear puts out pks of replacement sponges for their filters. These would be perfect for what you seek.

Please keep in mind, the level of bacteria growth in an established substrate is going to be much higher than newly seeded filter medias. The best way to approach it is to put some of that gravel into a mesh bag or nylon stocking, and add it to the new tank for a few wks. After your cycle is done, simply empty it back to where it belongs. Doing it this way you can drop it right into the new tank to lay at the bottom to help faster seed the new substrate.

jeaninel

If you have room on the 55 you can run the filter that your going to use on the 75. Then when your 75 is ready just move the filter over. Gravel in a stocking also works well.

Monsterpony

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to hit the LFS tonight and pick up the sponges and filter media. I won't be able to run the filter in the 55 gallon because it is coming with the 75 gallon, but I might find a different one that I can run. Thanks again.

fish_4_all

Is just a thought, I actually just thought of it, but you could try taking the filter media for the new filter when you get it and rub it all through the substrate of the old tank, on the glass and any ornaments you have in it. This could rub off some of the bacteria and help to seed the new filter.

Also, any part of the filter from the 55 that could be cut off, even the smallest amount, and put in the new filter will help seed bacteria.

bettababy

Sorry, I guess this didn't make sense to me... coming with the 75 gallon? Does the 55 have a filter on it now?

Monsterpony

Yes, the 55 has a filter. Jeaninel suggested that I run the filter that I will be using in the 75 in the 55 for the time being to develop bacteria culture. Then the filter would be primed for its new tank. Unfortunately, the filter for the 75 is coming with the tank so I won't have it beforehand. Make more sense?

bettababy

Yes, much more sense, thank you. You can still swap out filter media when you get the new tank. If your 55 is well established, taking the filter media from it and putting it into the new filter should help alot. Simply make it a regular change in filter media in the old filter.

One other thing that will help:
When you are ready to fill the 75, do a water change on the 55 and put the old water into the new tank. It doesn't have to be excessive, but enough to serve a good water change on the 55 and get you a little more jump started in the new one.