Seeding a quarantine tank

[Kial]

I've finally gone and bought a small 2nd hand tank to use as my quarantine.
I've put the filter pads into my DT sump to seed the QT, how long would this take? Am I better off just cycling it the nomal way?

 

[SDReefer]

If the DT has an established population of bacteria, the tank should cycle instantly, or at least within a day. It will take time for the bacteria population to grow if you add a lot of fish at once, so if you go slowly you can start adding fish soon.

That is one of the best methods for cycling a new tank.

 

[Kial]

OK awesome. I'll leave the pads In the DT for a few more days just to be safe then get them back into QT tank and fill it up

 

[4FordFamily]

I’ve never had one cycle immediately or even close, but it should help. I’d recommend adding biospira or dr tims to really kickstart — it completely floored me how effective they were.

 

[Kial]

Yeah I’ll look into getting some of that this week. Thanks

 

[4FordFamily]

Yeah I’ll look into getting some of that this week. Thanks

Dr tims is better, but both are good, IME.

 

[Kial]

I’ve just noticed I have some Red Sea nitro bac left over from when I started my DT so I’ll just use that as well as seeding filters from dt

 

[AcanthurusRex]

Aquaforests Life Bio Fil has worked immediately every time I've used it with new water. It worked with a 4.5" tang that is a complete pig. I've never seen the Ammonia Alert move off safe.

 

[Humblefish]

Read this: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-control-in-a-hospital-tank.296119/

 

[Kial]

Thanks will have a read now

 

[Kial]

So everything is up and running. But I can’t find the fish! I can see something which I’m not to sure what it is, right at the bottom of the rock in a small hole. Not moving but the only way to get to it to confirm if it’s the fish is to move the whole right side structure of rock