Filter question - How much, and how long, is enough?

[Stussi613]

So my 120g build is moving right along...but I'm looking for some advice on "seasoning" my new filter.  I put water in the tank last weekend and moved all my rocks, driftwood and plants over on Sunday.  Yesterday I moved a full tray of bio-rings and some filter floss (totally gungey but wrapped in new filter floss) into my new Rena xp4 that I've had running since the water went in. I had planned on running my Fluval 404 on the new tank for a week, but that's not possible now since I still have lots of dither fish in the 60g.  Do you think a tray of bio rings and filter floss is enough to get the bacteria going in the new tank and skip the cycle and put fish in on Saturday?  Should I add more media from the old filter? I'd prefer not to wait longer to add the fish since we're having a party on Saturday, but I think I'd prefer not losing any discus more.

[Darth]

imo yes that should be fine. You have bacteria for now, and more will build. If you have water in it for a week and a few fish and see how they do

[Stussi613]

I was thinking the same thing, but I wasn't sure and didn't want to risk it. 

I think I'm going to take the sponge I made to cover the filter inlet on the 60g when I added the amano shrimp and toss it straight into the tank.  That thing should be lousy with bacteria too

Anybody think it's a bad idea to toss my bushynose in there for the time being?  The only other fish I have in the house right now are tetras and otto's and I think they might be a bit to fragile to test with, not to mention that it would be a nightmare to catch them if they were affected.

[Darth]

add the bushy nose, the problem with cycling is you need livestock, adding old filter media is great, you should be able to add the fish, I would drip them though especially since your worried about them being fragile. Add them slowly like a few a day until they are all moved over. When I used to have my freshewater I would let a new setup run for 48hrs before adding fish you had a huge jumpstart because of the old media

[Brent Shaver]

Back in April Charlie posted this thread.

Listen to David Boruchowitz's Talk on Tropical Fish Myths, Pseudo- Science and o

http://www.aquaradio.net/pages/podcasts/podcasts_04_10/boruchowitz_04_21_10.html

There is a section concerning cycling a new tank.  I found it quite informative, take a listen and you can judge on whether you want to use the information.

Hope this helps.

[White Lightning]

I think you will be fine to go ahead and add some fish. I wouldn't add too many all at once though.

[markw]

Don't forget that you need to feed the bacteria or it will NOT survive. Just putting in some filter moss or matured media by itself, will not sustain the bacteria needed to counteract the ammonia once you introduce the fish. If you haven't added fish yet, then try a slow ammonia feed(or fishless cycle). Just add small quantities of pure ammonia to feed that bacteria, and after a few days when you can be assured that the media is still alive with bacteria then add the fish slowly. I've seen filter media die off within 24 hours without Oxygen and food, so be careful. Check parameters constantly as you begin adding fish. You'd be amazed at how fast they can spike the ammonia levels!

[Pyrrolin]

the bacteria on media is proportional to the bio load.  For example, if you removed 1/4 of the bio media from the other tank and moved it to the new tank, you should be cycled enough for about 1/8 of what your bio load is in the other tank.  I'm halving it due to bacteria not just being in the filter but on all surfaces in the aquarium, substrate, plants, rocks, wood, glass.  So for example if you had 100 neon tetras in the 60 gallon and moved 1/4 of the bio media to the new tank, then you should be good to go for about 12 or so neons in the new tank.

The longer you wait to add some stock, the more bacteria that will die from not having food.

As always, monitor ammonia and nitrites levels closely for the first few days.  After levels are 0 for a couple days, you can add a few more fish and then monitor again.  Also be prepared for a quick water change if levels go in the dangerous zone

If you don't have a liquid test kit, I strongly recommend getting one.