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Best/fastest way to cycle a tank?
I recently bought a 10gal for my coworkers two betta fish (yes, it will be divided), but before I give it to her I'd like to build up the bacteria in the filter. However, to completely cycle the tank takes a very long time, and I want those fish out of their tiny bowls ASAP. I'm not sure how best to go about this though.
I know heat, aeration, and seeding the tank will all help, but I'm wondering if I can just hook the filter up to one of my already established tanks?
Here's what I'm thinking.
-Seed the filter with media from established tank
-Hook filter up to established tank
-Raise temp? Tank has Rosy Red Minnows and the heater only heats to 74-76 F. Would this be enough and/or harmful to the minnows?
-Let 'cycle' for a week
Is this a good plan? Will it work or is it simply not enough time? Advice, please?
3 Answers
- Anonymous6 years agoFavorite Answer
If the fish are in bowls now, just add them to the tank and let it cycle naturally with the fish in there. The fish are safer in a large but still cycling tank than they are in the bowls. Most things you do to speed the cycle will be dangerous to the fish as it will increase the ammonia level.
If you have an established tank, get some gravel or filter media and add that to the new tank. That has some of the real live bacteria living on it already, so that seeds the population in the new tank.
- ?Lv 76 years ago
I agree that they are better off in the bigger tank, uncycled or not.
Think about it; in a bowl, both fish produce waste. That waste builds up quickly because there is less water to dilute it.
Extra filter media can speed the cycle.
Bacterial supplements can speed the cycle.
But, move the fish as soon as possible cycled or not.
- noselessmanLv 76 years ago
The fish are better in an uncycled 10 gallon then they are in an uncycled tiny container of waste from the petstore. You can but them in ASAP.
If you have an established tank, you can take filter media out of the filter, and put it into the new filter, and if you add enough of it, the filter will be instantly cycled, but it will speed up the procces even if you dont have a lot.
