Some Filter seeding questions

[batang_mcdo]

Hi,

I have some questions about filter seeding.
when getting filter media from another established filter,
how much media is needed to seed the new filter?
How long or how fast do the bacteria multiply so the new tank can skip cycling?

Also what media would be best to take from the other filter? Ceramic rings? Filter floss? Bio Balls, or foams?

thanks.

 

[haynchinook334]

If you can: run the filter in the established tank for a week or so, then set up the new tank with 50% water from the establish tank. And add fish. It's like doing a 50% water change on a new/establish tank.

 

[johnptc]

it will still need to cycle but should cut the time down. i would take as much filter media as i could.........skip the old water. provide a source of ammonia and its a good start

 

[Merbeast]

old water is... water. Get the filter media and ammonia.

 

[batang_mcdo]

thanks I will be changing tanks tomorrow.
will get some media from my other tanks

 

[CHOMPERS]

Get any media you can, and as much as possible.

Just make sure you get all of the floss. Do not clean the floss, keep it as dirty as possible until you get home. All the gunk in the floss contains tons of bacteria. When you are ready to put it in your filter, work the gunk out of the floss in a bucket of water. Then pour that in the filter. Lay the established media and floss on top of the new media (if the filter is top-down flow).

When I start a new filter, I eliminate the tank for a week. I plumb the pump to the top of the filter just to keep the new media in contact as much as possible with the gunk from the old filter.

 

[RobE]

I keep a small bag of filter media from an ac 110 in my sump so when i need to get another tank going i throw that in, it drastically reduces startup time. With that and water from a water change its usually ready in a day or two.

 

[Dr Joe]

it will still need to cycle but should cut the time down. i would take as much filter media as i could.........skip the old water. provide a source of ammonia and its a good start

and don't use the old water as your just adding contaminates & nitrItes/nitrAtes, your old filter would have to be in bad shape for there to be enough ammonia to start a new filter with.

.

Get any media you can, and as much as possible.

Just make sure you get all of the floss. Do not clean the floss, keep it as dirty as possible until you get home. All the gunk in the floss contains tons of bacteria. When you are ready to put it in your filter, work the gunk out of the floss in a bucket of water. Then pour that in the filter. Lay the established media and floss on top of the new media (if the filter is top-down flow).

When I start a new filter, I eliminate the tank for a week. I plumb the pump to the top of the filter just to keep the new media in contact as much as possible with the gunk from the old filter.

but this idea should have aeration and a source of food and then just clean the muck out before you attach the filter to the main water system of the tank.

Dr Joe

.

 

[CHOMPERS]

... I eliminate the tank ...

...

Dr Joe

.

When I was proof reading my post, I had visions of you asking if I had forgotten an "IN" in that statement (old school cycling).

 

[johnny roastbeef]

I always keep a few extra bags of ceramic rings in my tanks. I just set up and fully cycled a brand new 150 in just about 4 days. To get it going, I used old filter pads for the 2 HOBs on the tank, and put 2 bags of ceramic media in to extra HOBS. I added some fish last night. In a few days my FX5 will arrive, and I will transfer the ceramic media to the canister. Having used filter media in addition to the bio media really makes a dramatic difference.