Fast tank cycling...50/50 pre-cyled aquarium water/aged tap?

[ahritchie]

Hi, I'm getting a new Axie soon....my question is in order to speed up tank cycling could I add 50% already cycled water from my large 65 gal Spanish ribbed newt tank with 50% aged tap water...I would think this would be the equivalent of a large water change and shouldn't be an issue if I give it a few days to cycle more...right? Any thoughts or experiences with this technique of speeding up the cycling process with pre-cycled aquarium water?

 

[carsona246]

Water actually holds very little beneficial bacteria. What would work much better is to get some filter media, or substrate, or even an ornament from the old tank and put it in your new tank. If you have similar filter's on each tank maybe switch out the filter pads and put the used pad on the new tank, and the new pad on the old tank.