Reducing cycling time

Can I reduce the cycle time by using some water from an established tamk? Also, will it help to use some live sand from the established tank?

 

in the setup book i was using as a guide, it called this practice "seeding" and listed it as a way to speed up cycling. Just be careful what tank you get it from...remember that you're introducing water from another tank that comes with anything that could be wrong with their water (metal impurities, disease, etc.). the book says " an inexpensive way to establish the nitrogen cycle is to seed the aquarium with bacteria from an already established aquarium....this will accelerate water conditioning by seeding the new system with the right bacteria." It cites gravel (sand) from another system as a good method. It says you can also seed by using filter media form an already established (*and well maintained and established*) system.

 

as always, be patient. It still may take some time

 

well, depends the size also, if you had a 40 gallon aquarium, and added 20 gallons of an estabished aquarium water, and add 20 more gallons, the water will not cycle at all its just like a big water change

 

Reducing cycle time is something I always here in manufacturing with robots but never with saltwater. You should never try and take short cuts, they will only haunt you in the long run. This is a eco system that takes time to grow.

 

hmm well, after further reading i think its more of a "jump start" instead of actual "reduction" in cycle time. MY source suggested to use this if you were not going to use LR (but who wouldn't? LOL, so many cool critters!).

 

The water and sand would be for my new 24 gal and will be coming from my 55 gal tank.

 

the only way i know of almost cutting time in half is gettin hold of some real nice cycled out purpled up rock' (from a tare down or somthing)

And cycle time truly depends on size tank, how much LR and how curred it was when ya got hold of it, and how much of a sand bed.
But finding a good system to steal from for ceeding purposes will help .

 

Have you had any problems with your 55 that you wish to avoid in the new tank? If so IMO I wouldn't use a darned thing from the 55. This will be a good time to start over. If not, then go for it, but still expect a lengthy cycle. You may "cycle" a little quicker but your biological filter and tank maturity will never be rushed, they come in their own time and are as important as anything. Hope I could help a little, good luck!!