I'm going to my sister in laws house tomorrow to take one of her emperor 400 filter pads. She has a very healthy tank that hasn't had any diseases in years. The bio load is very small for the tank and filter so I won't be getting a ton of BB. My show tank wont be here for 2-3 more weeks and my basement rack isn't setup yet but I want to get this FX5 and 5 hydro V's cycled. I'm a bottle of ammonia for the fuel and a spare 20g for the tank, whats the best way to seed the filters can I just throw the emperor pad in the 20g and add a shot of ammonia? Or should I cut it up the blue pad and put it in the fx5 and put the old carbon in the bottom of the 20g? I'm also gonna take a handful of gravel
New FX5 old Emperor 400 pad
- Thread starter mrcloudz
- Start date
Are the filters going to be hooked up to the 20g and running? Personally, I would wait for your new tank and seed it with the used cartridges and media. If you go ahead with your plan, I would suggest you get a media sock (or an old nylon) and put your used charcoal in it, then put the sock in the canister.
You'll need to work fairly fast once you pull the media out of your sister's filter. BB will die off pretty quickly.
Good luck!
You'll need to work fairly fast once you pull the media out of your sister's filter. BB will die off pretty quickly.
Good luck!
No need to speed 
I still think it's a good idea to wait for your new tank (congrats btw!). Once you get your tank set up, you'll want to take your time getting your filter, hoses, intake and outlet set up just right. You won't want to rush this part and not be happy with your hoses over time. If your filter is down for an hour or more while you're doing this, you take a risk of losing all your BB...or even worse, having the water in your filter turn toxic (though I doubt this would happen in just one hour).
If you set up your 125, install your filter, add water and then seed the filter like you're planning now, you're good to go. I respect your intentions to start cycling now, but I think it's not needed and would be using electricity needlessly.
Be sure to post updates of the new tank!
I still think it's a good idea to wait for your new tank (congrats btw!). Once you get your tank set up, you'll want to take your time getting your filter, hoses, intake and outlet set up just right. You won't want to rush this part and not be happy with your hoses over time. If your filter is down for an hour or more while you're doing this, you take a risk of losing all your BB...or even worse, having the water in your filter turn toxic (though I doubt this would happen in just one hour).
If you set up your 125, install your filter, add water and then seed the filter like you're planning now, you're good to go. I respect your intentions to start cycling now, but I think it's not needed and would be using electricity needlessly.
Be sure to post updates of the new tank!
Some mentioned in another thread about the NutrafinCycle. Which I have always heard good things about. You can but a bottle of that.
Set up a sponge filter in your sisters tank, set up your 125.
Let it run for a couple of days , add a few fish , then bring your sponge filter over in a bucket of water..
Set up and Wham.. your good to go on a small bio load.. I have sponge filters running in my sumps.. I'll set up a new tank , wait 24 hours for temp and filtration to set up... Add fish, then the next day add the used sponge filter.
It never take me more than 72 hours to set up a tank this way...
Let it run for a couple of days , add a few fish , then bring your sponge filter over in a bucket of water..
Set up and Wham.. your good to go on a small bio load.. I have sponge filters running in my sumps.. I'll set up a new tank , wait 24 hours for temp and filtration to set up... Add fish, then the next day add the used sponge filter.
It never take me more than 72 hours to set up a tank this way...
Here is a pic of my cycling tank. 4 Hydro V's on 2 rena 400's and 3 boxes of fluval bio rings. Test are showing it is cycled. I need to try and fit 2 AC 110's on it. I finished my bi level 10ft rack in the basement and have 1 55g and 2 29'g that need to be painted. I think I will end up with 2 55's on the bottom and 2 or 3 29's on the top with just enough room for this 20H
I'm using to cycle.
I have also been trying to get in touch with coca cola or any soft drink bottling company for their used 55g syrup drums to age my water, but no luck . I may just end up doing temperature controlled wc's python style but with a diy a spray bar for the return so the water can "degas". Nyc water is pretty much R/O water with a little bit of chlorine and +.6 ph worth of gases, nothing a little prime shouldn't be able to handle.
The stand was built with only 2x4's, outdoor screws one tube of liquid nails and a can of exterior acrylic latex paint . No weight is on the hardware, it's all transfered to the floor via vertical 2x4's. The bio rings should be a great seed for my fx5 when my show tank comes but it will probably be the last tank to be stocked. I plan on just letting a l091 or l025 live in it until I have some quality discus.
I'm using to cycle.
I have also been trying to get in touch with coca cola or any soft drink bottling company for their used 55g syrup drums to age my water, but no luck . I may just end up doing temperature controlled wc's python style but with a diy a spray bar for the return so the water can "degas". Nyc water is pretty much R/O water with a little bit of chlorine and +.6 ph worth of gases, nothing a little prime shouldn't be able to handle.
The stand was built with only 2x4's, outdoor screws one tube of liquid nails and a can of exterior acrylic latex paint . No weight is on the hardware, it's all transfered to the floor via vertical 2x4's. The bio rings should be a great seed for my fx5 when my show tank comes but it will probably be the last tank to be stocked. I plan on just letting a l091 or l025 live in it until I have some quality discus.