Transfering mature filter media will definately help but its not instant and will still take a bit of time, alot of bacteria dies out with the shock of transfer, just like if you took a fish from one tank and threw it straight into another. a good way is using alot of old water from the same tank your using the media from.

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4/11/2006- gone but not forgotten!
0.0.1 Python molurus bivittatus, 0.0.1 Antaresia childreni, 1.1.0 Pandinus imperator, 0.0.2 Pseudemys floridana, 1.1.0 Chelydra serpentina.
Fish; 0.0.1 Channa gachua "sri lankan royal blue", 1.0.0 Channa ornatipinnis, 0.0.3 Channa striata, 0.0.3 Channa marulioides, 0.0.1 Channa sp "mimetic pulchra", 0.0.1 Channa sp. "northern myanmar", 2.2.0 Sandelia capensis.

Ah yes, that is what we did if I recall. It equated to a HUGE water change. This was moving from a small to larger fresh water. The marine was different as of course the live rock was/is the filter.

we used to provide a service in our shop, we'd let customers buy media (siporax or sinilar) suspend it with substrate of choice in fluval media bags in our systems for a couple of weks to populate with bacteria. then gave them as many gallons of system water they could be bothered to cary home,worked a treat!
i did it myself in a 2 gallon marine tank and kept an annemonie and a pair of clowns with a lump of rock inhabited with peacock worms instantly! JUST CHANGED 25% OF WATER FOR NEXT 4 WEKS.Zero readings there after.....

What a great idea...I wish all LFS were so conscientious.

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Member Number 13218
My Menagerie1 x Crossbreed Terrier (F)1 x Dwarf Rabbit (F)1 x Dwarf Hamster (F)1 x Pet Mouse (F)2 x Gerbils (M)1 x Budgie (M)1 x YBS Turtle (M)5 x Tropical Tanks1 x Coldwater Tank

Sorry to sound a bit thick,but where do you get the bottle of pure ammonia from?

boots tend to do it. just make sure it doesnt foam when you shake it!

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Thanks Esfa.
Just wondering if there was alternative ways to cycle a tank that didn't involve chemicals.
If there was no hurry to introduce fish to a tank,would a planted tank mature on it's own from the natural process of decaying plant matter etc?

Also what about using some water from filter sponges in a mature Koi pond?

Just a thought,but would it work.

the planted tank would word, but it would probably tank months

water wouldnt work, but the sponge its self would work.

or you can just chuck a load of fish food in the tank! this rots down and produces ammonia.

or a frozen prawn.

or apparently pee in your tank.

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I will make my mind up what method to use,I am going to plant my tank as soon as possible, as I just love the amazon swords and crypts,they have always been my favourites,and they was what I missed most when I went over to marines.

As for the peeing in the tank,sounds like a good,cheap idea,BUT could be habit forming,(not good when you have company)
Any way,thanks for the advice,Esfa.

try using tetra safestart, enables immediate aquarium start as it contains live nitrifying bacteria, so you wont need to fish cycle your aquarium. i have used it to start all my tanks and they have all been fine. gradually build up fish in the aquarium tho as if u put to many in at once it will be to much for ur filter to cope with