How many noodles required for new tank????

[axl]

Hi,
I am currently setting up a 6ft planted discus tank and i want to pull some noodles out of my other canister so i dont have to do a cycle on this tank, my question is how many do i need to get my bacteria going in the new tank???. Do i put half of my existing noodles into the new canister and replace them with new 1's or what???. What should i do
Cheers Axl

[ILLUSN]

about 30% is a good volume, if you can add 1/3 old media to 2/3 new media your tank will be cycled within days, dont forget to add a nitrogen source for the new bacteria to feed off.

[axl]

thanks for the info, would potassium nitrate be a good source of nitrogen, if so how much would you put in a 300ltr tank, e.g 1/2 teaspoon weekly
cheers axl

[axl]

pm sent Illusn

[ILLUSN]

pm replied :)

NO3 isnt the best as it at the end of the nitrogen cycle, better would be a dead prawn, toss one in and give it a couple of days(2 or 3), measure the NH3 and NO2, if both are 0 and you have trace ammounts of NO3 your tank is ready