Tank upgrade and cycling questions

[Lilibugz]

Planning to upgrade my 3 Spanish ribbed newts from a 20 gallon long to a 30-40 gallon. Currently have a sponge filter in there thats supposed to support up to 50 gallons. I plan to use this filter and everything in their current tank to kickstart the nitrogen cycle.
Should I add a second sponge filter too? Or is the one enough? With the pre cycled media I can add them in the larger tank the same day correct?
For reference I’m also thinking abt getting maybe 2 more newts to add in there which obviously creates a larger bioload. I also use live plant.

 

[Niels D]

You can easily keep 5 animals in a 40 gallon. One sponge filter should be enough. Especially if you're going to create a heavily planted tank. I don't know about the cycling though. Here we can use tap water, so cycling is only necessary for the plants to adjust and avoid the nitrate peek you can get in the beginning.

 

[JM29]

5 spanish ribbed newts in a 40 gallon heavily planted tank ?
Consider also the no-filter option