cycling new tank...use water from 1st tank?

ryanpal · 11/19/2007, 12:44 PM

hello everyone, i want to start a new tank.

would it be bad to use the water from my existing tank to help the cycle process? i figured this would be a good way to use the water that goes to waste from a water change...and possibly even quicken the cycle process.

what do you guys think?

InvaderJim · 11/19/2007, 12:45 PM

Are you upgrading your tank? If possible use as much water from the old tank as you can.

ryanpal · 11/19/2007, 12:46 PM

no this is a totally different setup

Slphappy · 11/19/2007, 12:54 PM

You can re-use the water if you like. But if you are looking to jumpstart your cycle you would be better off dumping a few cups of your old substrate into your new aquarium or possibly moving a piece of liverock into the new setup. Most of the denitrifying bacteria don't float around in the water, they mostly grow on the surfaces of the things (substrate, rocks, aquarium walls) in the aquarium.

H2OLUVSME · 11/19/2007, 12:57 PM

As stated above the LR and sand are what holds most of your good bacteria. The main advantage to adding waste water from a water change is the dirty water will act as food for the bacteria you are trying to grow. Good luck!

ryanpal · 11/19/2007, 01:07 PM

i see...so in essence there really isn't any big benefit, nor drawback right?

if it won't harm anything and there is no major benfit of using new fresh water than im ok with it.

H2OLUVSME · 11/19/2007, 01:10 PM

I guess thats another benefit. It saves the $$ of new SW

jgln · 11/19/2007, 03:22 PM

I moved a 40 and 30 sump into a 125 while moving into a new house and needed to use every drop from them both to try and recreate the conditions as closely as possible to the first. I think that is the main atvantage to using the old water, less shock from change in water conditions to fish/corals/etc. I also went to the ocean and got seawater and about 20g fresh mixed to top off the 125. No fish or corals ever got sick and no disease or unwanted animals from the ocean water, however this was in April when the water was still cold

11/19/2007, 12:44 PM	#1
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	cycling new tank...use water from 1st tank? hello everyone, i want to start a new tank. would it be bad to use the water from my existing tank to help the cycle process? i figured this would be a good way to use the water that goes to waste from a water change...and possibly even quicken the cycle process. what do you guys think?

11/19/2007, 12:54 PM	#4
Slphappy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cedar Falls, IA Posts: 144	You can re-use the water if you like. But if you are looking to jumpstart your cycle you would be better off dumping a few cups of your old substrate into your new aquarium or possibly moving a piece of liverock into the new setup. Most of the denitrifying bacteria don't float around in the water, they mostly grow on the surfaces of the things (substrate, rocks, aquarium walls) in the aquarium. __________________ How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world. ~William Shakespeare

11/19/2007, 12:57 PM	#5
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	As stated above the LR and sand are what holds most of your good bacteria. The main advantage to adding waste water from a water change is the dirty water will act as food for the bacteria you are trying to grow. Good luck! __________________ Landon

11/19/2007, 01:10 PM	#7
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	I guess thats another benefit. It saves the $$ of new SW __________________ Landon

11/19/2007, 03:22 PM	#8
jgln Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pedricktown,NJ Posts: 555	I moved a 40 and 30 sump into a 125 while moving into a new house and needed to use every drop from them both to try and recreate the conditions as closely as possible to the first. I think that is the main atvantage to using the old water, less shock from change in water conditions to fish/corals/etc. I also went to the ocean and got seawater and about 20g fresh mixed to top off the 125. No fish or corals ever got sick and no disease or unwanted animals from the ocean water, however this was in April when the water was still cold __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 125g reef with 30g sump/fuge

11/19/2007, 12:45 PM	#2
InvaderJim Coral Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,163	Are you upgrading your tank? If possible use as much water from the old tank as you can.

11/19/2007, 12:46 PM	#3
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	no this is a totally different setup

11/19/2007, 01:07 PM	#6
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	i see...so in essence there really isn't any big benefit, nor drawback right? if it won't harm anything and there is no major benfit of using new fresh water than im ok with it.