Setting up a sump with old media. Need advice

[Lukemitchell]

Hi

Right I am building a 180L fluidised sump for my 125g ray grow out and when I bought the tank I was given 2 aqua one external filters with it and I was wondering if I could use the media from them and put in my new sump to speed up the cycling time or will that add bad bacteria from the old filter to the new sump ? Or do I get them bacteria gel balls and add them to the filter ?

Thanks

 

[mrwinkle]

Should be fine. if your worried about "bad bacteria" asked the previous owner the history of the tank and if they were in use during, if any, infestations.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

When you say that the filters came with the tank, how long has the tank been broken down/without fish and has the media had a chance to dry out? You can certainly use the media, but I'm not sure it will still have any beneficial bacteria on it.

 

[tlindsey]

When you say that the filters came with the tank, how long has the tank been broken down/without fish and has the media had a chance to dry out? You can certainly use the media, but I'm not sure it will still have any beneficial bacteria on it.

+1

 

[Lukemitchell]

When you say that the filters came with the tank, how long has the tank been broken down/without fish and has the media had a chance to dry out? You can certainly use the media, but I'm not sure it will still have any beneficial bacteria on it.

I think it was broke down 2 weeks prior to me picking the tank up

 

[Drstrangelove]

The bacteria is gone if it the media dried out. The types you want don't create spores and can't survive in that condition.

In that case, give the media a good thorough rinsing and cleaning, then it can be used. You can still use the old media, but it won't start with any BB. Some people would put it through a round of bleach then dechlorinator to sterilize it and that isn't a bad idea, but is probably not needed.

 

[Lukemitchell]

The bacteria is gone if it the media dried out. The types you want don't create spores and can't survive in that condition.

In that case, give the media a good thorough rinsing and cleaning, then it can be used. You can still use the old media, but it won't start with any BB. Some people would put it through a round of bleach then dechlorinator to sterilize it and that isn't a bad idea, but is probably not needed.

Ok so I should give the media a wash and that will be ok ? Or do I go with the live bacteria gel balls ?

 

[duanes]

I agree with Dr Strangelove, 2 weeks out of water will have killed the beneficial bacteria, to at least petit in stasis. You will not be able to jumpstart a cycle quickly that way.
You would have had to sump set up, and take the media from active filters and almost immediately drop it into the sump to preserve it viability.

 

[Lukemitchell]

I agree with Dr Strangelove, 2 weeks out of water will have killed the beneficial bacteria, to at least petit in stasis. You will not be able to jumpstart a cycle quickly that way.
You would have had to sump set up, and take the media from active filters and almost immediately drop it into the sump to preserve it viability.

Ok so I wouldn't need to transfer the media then ? Do you know much about the live bacteria gel balls ?

 

[skjl47]

Ok so I wouldn't need to transfer the media then ? Do you know much about the live bacteria gel balls ?

Hello; I personally do not know anything about this product.

Correct me if I am mistaken but this is to be a grow out tank, right? Does this mean you have other tanks set up? If so, you can seed the new setup with beneficial bacteria (bb) with material from an established tank.

If the newly setup 125 gallon is your only tank and you cannot get any media from an established tank, then you will have to start the cycle process from scratch. Often either a "fishless cycle method" or "fish-in cycle process". Either of which may take weeks.

I have read posts about commercially available products that are supposed to help get a cycle started. There seems to be an ongoing debate as to how well these products work. Some swear by them, while other swear at them. I have never used any so cannot say.

If you have a fish shop handy perhaps you can buy some bb coated material from there to seed the new setup. it can be filter media but also many other solid materials. This includes tank décor, snails, substrate, live plants (I think) or pretty much anything that has been in an established tank for a few weeks except for the water itself.
I suppose there can be a risk of introducing some sort of pathogen or parasite and I have no way to tell you how to know for sure.

Good luck