Brackish tank cycling

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Would adding a bit of substrate from both my saltwater and freshwater tanks be helpful to jump start my cycle? Seeing as bacteria in a bottle exists and can be used for both fresh and salt I assume that there are bacteria species that inhabit both environments.

 

[brandon429]

Tetra brand cycling bottle bac does fw and sw from same bottle it says, I think you're onto something

 

[ichthyogeek]

I'm basing all of my information from Tim Hovanec's MACNA talk, or information that I've read about and long since forgotten the source, but I think it depends on the salinity you're aiming for. If it's 1.005 SG or less, then you can use freshwater bacteria, and if it's higher, then you use saltwater bacteria.

It certainly can't hurt (too much) to add a touch of substrate from both of your tanks though! What're you planning on keeping?

 

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I rescued 6 bumblebee gobies from a shattered tank so didn’t take any gravel or decor for fear of finding slivers of glass. The specific gravity of the water in the cooler they are currently living in is 1.010