Hi everyone. Well, I have a 29 gallon tank that has a HOB filter. It's a little too small so I bought a larger HOB filter. I have the new filter currently running in my set-up 180. How long do you think I need to leave the new filter on the 180 until the filter gets enough beneficial bacteria and I can put it on the 29. Thanks in advance, Ed.
How Long To Seed Media
- Thread starter Dr_Shakalu
- Start date
Well you could just transfer the old media from your small Hob to your bigger Hob maybe leave it a day and that's that.
But I'm planning on switching the filters at the same time so using the old media from the smaller filter into the larger filter will leave the small filter with no media and I need to have the small one working.
Well you could take half of the media tho, like share it, once seeded BB's will just spread, there's no mini cycle to be worried about, not unless the filter couldn't keep up with the biological load, but I doubt that, run the old and new filter at the same tank, share some media from the old maybe a pad or some bio balls/ceramic media, then buy some/get some new media along with it, leave it for some days or a week and you're on the go. 
+1, that's how I'd do it.Well you could take half of the media tho, like share it, once seeded BB's will just spread, there's no mini cycle to be worried about, not unless the filter couldn't keep up with the biological load, but I doubt that, run the old and new filter at the same tank, share some media from the old maybe a pad or some bio balls/ceramic media, then buy some/get some new media along with it, leave it for some days or a week and you're on the go.
Well you could take half of the media tho, like share it, once seeded BB's will just spread, there's no mini cycle to be worried about, not unless the filter couldn't keep up with the biological load, but I doubt that, run the old and new filter at the same tank, share some media from the old maybe a pad or some bio balls/ceramic media, then buy some/get some new media along with it, leave it for some days or a week and you're on the go.
+2
BB are both motile (flagella), and non-motile, but for seeding it's best to act as if they are all non motile. Place some seeded media directly touching new media and allow the BB to expand onto the new media.
Given the right conditions (some, but not too much ammonia), temps (77-86 is close to ideal) and ideal pH levels (7.3-7.8) growth should be rapid for both nitrosomonas and nitrobacter. Of course, they can grow at wider temp and pH ranges, but as you reach extremes, e.g., temps below 64 F, or pH below 6.0, growth will be extremely slow.