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Can Cycled Water be Used In New Tank-Beneficial Bacteria?

Discussion in 'Freshwater General Discussion' started by Leslie, Mar 23, 2009.

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  1. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    question on new tank

    Okay its that time agian for me to ask a dumb question. :) ok.. now here is my question. the water you take out of your tank when doing a water change, could you use it to put in a new tank to jumpstart the good bacteria??

    see i told you it was dumb question time by leslie!! :) :)
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  2. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    Not dumb at all. Many people have that same thought. The quick answer is no. It will not be beneficial for establishing a tank. The BB is on surface area such as media, gravel, decorations, etc. Not in the water column.
     
    James0816, Mar 23, 2009
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  3. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    ok. well.. will it help if i put some of the plants in that tank in it?
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  4. Alleycat

    Alleycat Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    James, although you are correct, the water is quite useful if you want to use it in another aquarium you're starting up like Leslie has described. Just add a "seeded" filter to it, some rocks, decorations, or gravel from the existing tank, and voila, you can add fish today. That's how I set up my 5's and 10's, and as I'm doing exactly at this moment :) I have some fry that need to be removed from the parents and I was without a tank. 15 minutes later they have a new home. Not the best looking, but it'll work.

    Yep those plants will help too ....
     
    Alleycat, Mar 23, 2009
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  5. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    ok.. i thought about geting a new filter and sticking it in the tank, not taking the old one out and leaving it for like a week or so. like laying it on the side of the tank. getting a 10.. i know i can move it!!!
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  6. Alleycat

    Alleycat Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    What kind of filters are we talking about?
     
    Alleycat, Mar 23, 2009
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  7. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    opps i ment the media
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  8. Alleycat

    Alleycat Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    Yes you can do that as bacteria will be in your media...

    Sounds like someone has MTS [help]
     
    Alleycat, Mar 23, 2009
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  9. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    Just to be clear here....the water will not be beneficial in cycling a tank. It's the "seeded" material that helps. ;)
     
    James0816, Mar 23, 2009
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  10. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    i love fish and i going to make my 5 gal a shrimp tank!! and i get a 10 like tomorrow. and i ment as far as the water, with it having the amonia and whatever in it will it help that wya?
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  11. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    Very nil. Just start with fresh treated water and "seeded" material from an established tank. If you are adding fish while doing this, you are looking at a fishy cycle and you will have to monitor very closely.
     
    James0816, Mar 23, 2009
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  12. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    ive done a fishy cycle before. i just needed to know about the water.
     
    Leslie, Mar 23, 2009
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  13. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    kew....then you're on your way. gl
     
    James0816, Mar 23, 2009
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  14. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    Re: question on new tank

    Like james said the water itself will not carry the BB :)
    Cant wait to see your new tank leslie :)
     
    Guidoman888, Mar 24, 2009
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  15. deerhunter

    deerhunter New Member

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    learned something new here,i was always told it was good too use some water from another if the fish from that tank were going in the new one
     
    deerhunter, Jun 14, 2009
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  16. kwheeler91

    kwheeler91 New Member

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    it might help to maybe stir up your gravel really good and get your bacteria up into the water column and siphon some of that water... but then a gain i might just be crazy :confused:
     
    kwheeler91, Jun 24, 2009
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  17. sccichlids

    sccichlids Member

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    fill the new tank with half of the old water, use the seasoned filter and some of the gravel and it will be like a half water change
     
    sccichlids, Jun 28, 2009
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  18. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    The bb is mainly in the equipment so throwing over the water wont help. Though that water is probadly cycled so you'd have some good water I agree with sccichlids. Put over half the water. I'm not sure about this tho
     
    Guidoman888, Jun 29, 2009
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  19. sccichlids

    sccichlids Member

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    bacteria needs fish waste to live. the seasoned water keeps the bacteria alive until your fish can season the new water.
    i start all my tanks this way and never have a bloom or any other problems.

    2 10 gallon
    5 20 long
    6 30 long
    4 30 high
    2 40 long
    8 40 high
    8 55 long
    1 50 high
    5 90 long
    1 110 high
    1 150 long
    1 180 long

    2 110 gallong stock tubs for ponds
     
    sccichlids, Jun 29, 2009
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  20. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    No point in adding used dirty water to a new tank if you don't have any beneficial bacteria to begin with. Secondly, if you do use old media why put dirty water in there when you'll be adding fish at the same time ? The fish will provide the ammonia for any BB you've moved over.
     
    Anthony, Jun 29, 2009
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