I moved from a 20 long to a 55g. I used all the old filter media from my smaller marine land and added two new marinelandl 350's to tje new tank. So had one very well used bio wheel in the 20 with a smaller marineland..and now 4 in the 55. Had two filter cartridges and now eight with the dual 350's. Put in new gravel and then put the old gravel on top of it. Also used to use those little fluval marshmallows in my smaller filter and moved those too along with some rock and ornamentation. Added safe start, some of the old water, filled it using stress coat of course or prime.. And added the fish. All within one hour. Been six months now never lost a fish or had a bacterial cloud and all the tests are perfect...did it all in one hour! Call me crazy..a cycled tank without a cycle. Or at least a new one that is. Guess it was all the old bio material that supported all of that extra space and water. Even I am amazed. It's still crystal clear. I do weekly water changes etc of course starting week one. Tossed those marshmallows out too after a few weeks. I have loaches, cories and a very happy betta cruising the upstairs. I use four fluval sponges to keep the water from being disturbed from the powerful filters for the betta and have an air stone that flows up under the sponges so it puts in some oxygen without disturbing the top calmness that the betta likes. And then I obey my feeding rules.. Only two pellets a day for The betta and veggie and other sinking wafers for the basement guys. I use dual 48 inch t5's to light the place and some nice blue moonlight LEDs for evening ......and then it's all lights out at bedtime.

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Hoopman
Sunny Orlando FL
55G W/Angel, loaches/cats, tetras, rasboras, Two Bio Wheel 350's (8 cartridges and 4 wheels) Dual T5 ATI bulbs which are blue & blue-plus (white), give a saltwater tank look/moons. - 37G w/Angel, Mystery snails, tetras/cherry barbs. Dual 24 inch T5 with same ATI bulbs/moons. Bio wheel filter (dual cartridges and one wheel) and Aqueon single filter Bio cage cartridge, both designed for larger tanks. n

I did the same about five years ago. Went from a 20 gal planted tank, to a 60 gal. I did what you did, and used everything I could out of the old tank, and not one fish died. I have also experienced the "cycled tank without the cycle." Makes you feel good, knowing that you did it perfect!

Agree. Got the idea here.

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Hoopman
Sunny Orlando FL
55G W/Angel, loaches/cats, tetras, rasboras, Two Bio Wheel 350's (8 cartridges and 4 wheels) Dual T5 ATI bulbs which are blue & blue-plus (white), give a saltwater tank look/moons. - 37G w/Angel, Mystery snails, tetras/cherry barbs. Dual 24 inch T5 with same ATI bulbs/moons. Bio wheel filter (dual cartridges and one wheel) and Aqueon single filter Bio cage cartridge, both designed for larger tanks. n

Sometimes when starting a new nano tank for a customer,i will use live sand and water from my reef tank at home, and it cuts the cycle down to about a week