Too Much Gravel. Move to New Tank?

[MatthewLaw]

Greetings All- I have a 33g tank that has just finished cycling. I have two (2) black mollies inside that have been alive for over a week!! The height of the gravel is betwween 0.5 and 2 inches. I have read that the gravel should not be higher than 0.5 inches.

I also have a 60 gallon tank coming in next week. Should I transfer some of the 33g's gravel into the 60 gallon tank? Or would this distrub the bacteria and nitrite, amonia, nitrate and pH levels?? Thanks. -Matt

[MadridKid]

huh? well, this is a real good question. probably the best of today. if i were you, i would do a 50% water change and then take out the wanted gravel for the new tank. but, thats just me. i dont think it would disrupt your current readings of trates, trites and amonia. u might want a second opinion... and i dont think the extracted gravel would fill the new 60 gal.

[MatthewLaw]

Thanks for your response. I am planning on using other gravel and sand for the 60g tank. BUT if I wasn't forced to purchased another bag of gravel, then I could purchase some other fish, supplies, etc!

I am more concerned with disturbing the nitrite/nitrate/amonia levels by moving some of the gravel out. I am also hoping that this gravel will help cycle the 60g tank faster....

[GeraldTheMouse]

If you have/are getting a canister filter for the 60g, and you don't like the way the gravel from the 33g looks in there, you could put some gravel into one of the compartments in the filter as a media. I'm not sure how you'd go about doing that in a HOB, though.