[RexMundi]

Hello,

I'm just about ready to start filling my new 29g tank. Once the water is ready for fish and plants, is it a good idea to use a pint of someone else's aquarium water to get the bacteria cycle kick-started?

I've heard of using other people's gravel, but shouldn't the water be just as good?

TIA!

 

[RainbowhLizzie]

I don't think the water holds any bacteria in it. It has to have surface area, I believe

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[rsskylight04]

Yes . The types of bacteria we are looking for can only colonize solid surfaces like gravel, glass, and filterpads. For a great kickstart use an old filterpad from a mature tank and gravel or rocks as well. Good luck .

 

[RexMundi]

Thanks for the info. That's the kind of advice new guys like me just can't find easily on the Internet.

 

[rsskylight04]

Good info truly is hard to find. I've learned so much scince joining this forum. All the internet in the world i s no substitute for talking to real people.

Good luch to you and your fish.

 

[Hallyx]

One potential problem with using "seeded" media is knowing and trusting the health of the donor tank. Some keepers won't even seed from their own tanks, but rely on bottled bacteria like: Tetra Safestart, API Quickstart, ATM Colony, Microbe-Lift NiteOut II and Dr Tim's One-and-Only (arguably the best and most expensive). Even Seachem Stability works somewhat.

Or, because nitrifying bacteria are in the atmosphere, you can wait until it literally falls out of the sky into your tank. That's the cheapest but longest method.