Borrowed Running Filter - How Long To Wait To Add Fish?

[StatMan]

Have a Fluval 1 plus filter that has been running for 3 months in the fry / birthing side of onr of our tanks, there is also the filter that came with the tank in there.

Wanting to get a Tetra Aquaart 60L up and running, was thinking of adding this filter to that tank temporarily along with the long term filter an Elite Stingray 15. Also it is about time to change the filter pack from our other Tetra AquArt 60L so I could shake this over the new filter (not the in built variety like the other tank) or maybe tie it on and leave it there for a day or so.

Would this be enough to get the tank up and running?

How long would you leave the old Filter pack in the tank, shake a nd leave, 1 day longer?

When would it be safe to add fish to this tank?

Obviously I will test the water but when will the tank be able to sustain fish safely?

StatMan

 

[StatMan]

Slight change of plan I have now setup the tank but with an Eheim Aquaball 2210, I think it will work better pushing the water around the tank with dividers.

I have the tank filled planted and with the new (re-used) filter in it.

I have yet to move the "live" filter from the other tank. Or to put the used Filter cartridge in.

Also the substrate has been planted up with a new bag of Caribsea Eco Complete Planted Aquarium which is meant to include bacteria.

I was hoping to come back to some replies as I am sure that there are many on here with experience of doing this.

Whilst wanting to get this tank running as quickly as possible, no fish will be going in until I am 100% happy the environment is right for the fish.

Anyone have any feedback.

StatMan

 

[Inchworm]

Hi StatMan

You're not doing very well with this thread in Tropical Discussion. I'll move it over to New to the Hobby where the members talk about filters. My posting on it will move it to the top of the list again.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Just trying to clear things up. Does the new tank that you want to add the mature filter media to have fish? Or are you putting a new filter into an already established tank?
Seeding a filter is when you take an established filter and put it in a new tank with a new filter. You must have ammonia in the new tank, either you do fish-in or fishless (add ammonia, wait and check) to do this. When you have figured out how you are going to have ammonia in the new tank, and you have both filters in there, new and established, it should not take much more than a couple weeks until beneficial bacteria start growing in the new filter in enough numbers to run on its own. Test your water everyday to monitor the results. In a couple weeks of running the filter, take out the old filter and check the water 24 hours later and see if there is any ammonia or nitrites present. If there is, then you know that you need to put the old filter back in and run it for a little longer. If there is no ammonia or nitrite, then you know that your bacteria is colonized enough in your new filter to run on its own.
-FHM

 

[StatMan]

Just trying to clear things up. Does the new tank that you want to add the mature filter media to have fish? Or are you putting a new filter into an already established tank?
Seeding a filter is when you take an established filter and put it in a new tank with a new filter. You must have ammonia in the new tank, either you do fish-in or fishless (add ammonia, wait and check) to do this. When you have figured out how you are going to have ammonia in the new tank, and you have both filters in there, new and established, it should not take much more than a couple weeks until beneficial bacteria start growing in the new filter in enough numbers to run on its own. Test your water everyday to monitor the results. In a couple weeks of running the filter, take out the old filter and check the water 24 hours later and see if there is any ammonia or nitrites present. If there is, then you know that you need to put the old filter back in and run it for a little longer. If there is no ammonia or nitrite, then you know that your bacteria is colonized enough in your new filter to run on its own.
-FHM

New Tank 60L - Planted with Eco-complete substrate (contains bacteria) with new filter up and running. No fish until the conditions are right.

Looking to add a small Fluval 1 plus (upto 45L) filter currently running as a secondary in another tank, and maybe a cartridge filter from another (hang over new filter?) to add in more bacteria?

Have a big bottle of ammonia which I am using to do a complete from scratch cycle on another large 240L tank have been going for several weeks, so can add ammonia easily if that is required.

Will add the "live filter" and reccomended amount of ammonia via the site calculator tomorrow and monitor for the next couple of days.

Do you think there is beenfit to adding the "old filter cartridge" as well, this is probably due a change as it is about 6 weeks old now.

StatMan

 

[fatheadminnow]

Do you think there is beenfit to adding the "old filter cartridge" as well, this is probably due a change as it is about 6 weeks old now.

You mean add the "old filter cartridge" to your new 60L tank? Does this old filter cartridge contain live bacteria? If so then it could not hurt. Also, there is no need to replace the old filter cartridge unless it is pretty much going to fall apart. Add up to 5 ppm of ammonia to your tank when you have everything going and check levels every 24 hours.
-FHM

 

[StatMan]

Do you think there is beenfit to adding the "old filter cartridge" as well, this is probably due a change as it is about 6 weeks old now.

You mean add the "old filter cartridge" to your new 60L tank? Does this old filter cartridge contain live bacteria? If so then it could not hurt. Also, there is no need to replace the old filter cartridge unless it is pretty much going to fall apart. Add up to 5 ppm of ammonia to your tank when you have everything going and check levels every 24 hours.
-FHM

The Cartridge is from a Tetra crystal clear filter, there is a sponge filter which you leave in and the filter pack which you change, this one has been in 6 weeks and due a clean / swap would normally put back in for another 6 weeks, they reccomend changing every 4 weeks but I think that is a sales pitch the water conditions in this tank are perfect.

My thinking was there might well be bacteria on this filter pack and that if I "hung" it over the new filter it could only help the process, I could put a new one in the other tank and than re- use this one down the line.

StatMan

 

[fatheadminnow]

The Cartridge is from a Tetra crystal clear filter, there is a sponge filter which you leave in and the filter pack which you change, this one has been in 6 weeks and due a clean / swap would normally put back in for another 6 weeks, they reccomend changing every 4 weeks but I think that is a sales pitch the water conditions in this tank are perfect.

My thinking was there might well be bacteria on this filter pack and that if I "hung" it over the new filter it could only help the process, I could put a new one in the other tank and than re- use this one down the line.

StatMan

You are right about that, it is a sales pitch. You should not have to replace your filter pads unless they are pretty much falling apart.

Yes, if you put it in your new filter it will for sure help the cycling process.

-FHM