Following my recent 29g tank disaster (it cracked and leaked), I wanted to set something up in it's place as quickly and cheaply as possible. For a replacement I went with a 20g long, since my existing stand, lighted hood, filtration and heater were a direct swap, going from 29 to 20g. Well... that, and I was afraid to go with another 29g. 
I setup the new 20g with brand-new gravel, a few fake plants from the 29g, the sponge filter and HOB filter from the 29g and all new dechlorinated water. I then transfered my 21 fish from their temporary storage tote, to their new 20g home.
~5 days later, my water parameters are 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 20ppm nitrate. I never saw any ammonia or nitrites. Instant cycle as they say! I know several of you have suggested this in the past. I just wanted to post about it's great success.
Not only are air powered sponge filters cheap, I have a feeling they can pack quite the colony of beneficial bacteria. My Top Fin 30 HOB filter has only a thin section of biological filtration downstream of the replaceable mechanical filtration pad. My guess is the sponge filter did most of the work here.
I setup the new 20g with brand-new gravel, a few fake plants from the 29g, the sponge filter and HOB filter from the 29g and all new dechlorinated water. I then transfered my 21 fish from their temporary storage tote, to their new 20g home.
~5 days later, my water parameters are 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 20ppm nitrate. I never saw any ammonia or nitrites. Instant cycle as they say! I know several of you have suggested this in the past. I just wanted to post about it's great success.
Not only are air powered sponge filters cheap, I have a feeling they can pack quite the colony of beneficial bacteria. My Top Fin 30 HOB filter has only a thin section of biological filtration downstream of the replaceable mechanical filtration pad. My guess is the sponge filter did most of the work here.
