Cycle

[chantiandeanie]

When setting up a new tank, could I take some water from my old tank so that a cycle is already established/semi established? My current tank is bigger than the one I'm setting up so a small amount of water from it would be more in the new tank. What percentage of the new tank would need to be the old water in order for this to work?

 

[ali000]

It may help a little bit but most of the beneficial bacteria is in the substrate and filter, not the water.

so it's always best to do a proper cycle anyway

 

[Jennewt]

I agree, you'll do better by transferring a filter pad or some rocks and plants from the old tank. Whether or not this would be sufficient to not need to cycle the tank really depends on the tank size and the size/number of animals put into it. I have no hesitation to put animals in a new tank right away if I transfer rocks and plants from an old tank, provided that the tank is oversized for the animals I'm putting in.

 

[Lisa]

I put one axolotl into a 4 four long tank which contained some rocks,java fern and ornaments from his old tank, but new water, and it still cycled, but very quickly (2.5 weeks) and with no "big" spikes. And when I added another axie a month later, my water parameters didn't change.