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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 10:27 pm
by Jayhawk
What kind of filter are you running on your 30 gallon tank? I run ACs with two sponge filters each, and I've had good luck pulling one of the sponges and putting that in the new tank's filter along with a bag of gravel in a mesh net also in the filter. Then I add my fish, but I tend to stock very lightly.
This may be heresy, but it's worked for me for years.
Eric
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 10:41 pm
by Phaedrus
That is an option jayhawk. I've done it myself.
Ideally, though, you'd do just that, except use ammonia for a while before adding fish.
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 12:27 am
by Jayhawk
Why the ammonia?
When I've used a mature filter pad and some gravel I've never had a nitrite or ammonia spike. I also usually add plants from an existing tank as well...so there's likely more bacteria coming over on them, too.
I see it as being similar to adding BS and the fish immediately.
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 1:24 am
by Phaedrus
I guess it depends on the ammount of bacteria you bring over and the ammount of bioload you initially introduce.
I'd still use the ammonia to stress test it anyway. But I'm probably overly cautious.
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 8:01 am
by Jayhawk
Caution is rarely a bad thing! I do stock lightly, and I probably should have emphasized that. My most heavily stocked tank is my 29 gallon with (if you pardon the excursion into inches of fish land for a moment) would max out at 12" or 13" total length of non-heavy bodied fish.
However, if I was starting the tank with a used filter pad and accessories, I'd only put in about half that amount and only slowly increase the inhabitants.
Eric
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 8:44 am
by lisalisa
I too, have had great luck moving media over and not experiencing a cycle. Phaedrus is right though, you have to move over enough bacteria to handle the load you are adding. Since you stock so lightly Eric, I'd bet it works perfectly.
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 12:21 pm
by Nasser
Jayhawk... I'm running a penguin 170 on the African Chiclid 30g tank
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 12:59 pm
by Jayhawk
I'm not sure how much surface area for bacteria the penguine cartridge would have...best to play it safe and go with BS or ammonia.
Eric
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:49 pm
by Phaedrus
Would the biowheel on the penguin 170 fit onto the penguin 100 for your new tank?
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:54 pm
by Nasser
Nop, two different sizes
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:59 pm
by Phaedrus
How bout the cartridges? would they be able to switch?
If not, you could start running your penguin100 on your cichlid tank for a week and then move it over to the new tank and add fish.
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 3:01 pm
by Jayhawk
Phaedrus - that's a good idea about running dual filters.
Eric
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 3:03 pm
by Nasser
That is a possibility