Unused cycled tank

[muzzy22]

Hey guys,

I have a current 215ltr tank that is cycled but decided to upgrade. I want to use the cycled water in the new tank. Do I need to keep the tanks pump and heater running in order to keep the cycle or can I switch it off for a week then use that water in the new tank ?

 

[Gtinnel]

Switching the water from a cycled tank won’t make the new tank cycled. Most of the bacteria that has built up to make the tank cycled will be in the rocks and substrate.

 

[cdnco2004]

Hey guys,

I have a current 215ltr tank that is cycled but decided to upgrade. I want to use the cycled water in the new tank. Do I need to keep the tanks pump and heater running in order to keep the cycle or can I switch it off for a week then use that water in the new tank ?

The vast majority of bacteria lives on the surfaces in your tank not in the water. This means they are in the sand and rocks. You need to move all of that over to seed the new tank to have it cycled.

You can turn the heat and pumps off until you move it but the bacteria will die off without oxygen in the water.

 

[brian61381]

I have been successful adding all of the sand/substrate/rocks to the new tank and about 25% of the water. As others have mentioned the beneficial bacteria is in the rocks/sand.