Inserting old filter media into new Canister Filter

[JK47]

Im not sure if I agree that the carbon could be of no use. It is a porous structure for beneficial bacteria to grow on. Depending on how long it was in use it could have a fair amount of BB on it.

I'm not saying BB wouldn't be present on the carbon, it would, just that in any quantity that a 10 gallon filter could hold it would not any real significant impact. Most of us when quick cycling a large tank have a bit more cycled media to throw in with it. That's all. I didn't see anyone else comment about the fact that the media was in small quantity and didn't want the OP thinking that because some say "just throw in media from another filter your good to go".

I think if purigen was not used, adding the media and fish/testing perams regularly that sounds OK IMO.

 

[tcarswell]

I'm not saying BB wouldn't be present on the carbon, it would, just that in any quantity that a 10 gallon filter could hold it would not any real significant impact. Most of us when quick cycling a large tank have a bit more cycled media to throw in with it. That's all. I didn't see anyone else comment about the fact that the media was in small quantity and didn't want the OP thinking that because some say "just throw in media from another filter your good to go".

I think if purigen was not used, adding the media and fish/testing perams regularly that sounds OK IMO.

Sounds good. I just think if your gonna try to use seeded and you have a limited amount using the most you have is the best response. But from a 10 gallon it would clearly not be a ton of BB. But the bacteria does grow quickly so any little bit helps.

 

[jschall]

agreed! Your BB will never get going with the Purigen soaking up everything.

Actually, using purigen is a pretty great idea.

As it depletes, it would slowly ramp up the ammonia released, thus allowing the bacteria to become established without allowing the ammonia to get too high.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure fish directly release ammonia that can't be adsorbed by purigen.

BB doubles approximately every 20 hours under perfect conditions. Lets just say (for the sake of argument) your established filter media has 10,000 individual bacteria in it, and otherwise you'd start off with 50. 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12,800. Saves you 160 hours of cycling, or almost a week. Of course, these numbers could be and probably are total bogus, they're most likely a looooong way off.

 

[JakeH]

I think nc_nutcase's time frame is about right. A week or so is all it should take to cycle with a proper amount of established media. We can agree to disagree on that filter review. It may have been useless regarding long term use, but it was a properly executed basic scientific experiment with only one variable, so the results stand on their own. Beyond that one test, they made no other claims.