Change Of Filter, What To Do With Old Media?

[JonnyN]

Hi all,

I've recently revamped my 60L (58L technically) tank, changing out the gravel for sand and dumping the old crappy interal for an Eheim 2213 external. I've initally put the old sponge media back into the housing for the old filter (so its separate from the main area of the tank but water is still getting to it above and below through the input/output slats of the old internal housing) and let the new Eheim do its thing with the hope that everything will transfer over nicely from the old media to the new Eheim.

My question is how long should I keep that old media sitting around in the water (albeit sectioned off in the old filter housing)? I'm concerned that theres obviously now no flow going through it and I'd like to completely remove the old internal filter housing to open up the tank a bit more and give some more space as theres now no pump or basket in there anymore.

Thanks in advance

 

[fluttermoth]

You need to put the old media actually in the new filter; just leaving it in the tank won't transfer any bacteria, as they cling onto the media quite strongly. You need to do this ASAP, as with no water flowing through it to provide food, the bacteria will start to die off.

 

[the_lock_man]

+1 what she said ^^^^^^

 

[JonnyN]

Ah ok thanks! Oversight on my part then lol can I remove the white cotton filter from the Eheim completely to make space? I've heard most people do as it doesnt really do much but restrict flow and I'd rather not take out any main parts of filter media which has been cycling for a few days now and theres next to no space in the canister.

 

[moochy13]

cant remember now, despite having one, does the 2213 come with a black carbon sponge ? if so bin it, and replace it with the sponge. depending on how big your cycled sponge media is, you could replace one of the eheim sponges for now, and then put the eheim one back in once the rest of your new filter media has been colonised. you coudl even cut the sponge up and put bits of in the new filter. the 2213 has cermaic rings and little balls that look like rabbit poo yeah ? you could even remove the rabbit poo, or some of it to make room for your bacteria filled sponge.

either way, it has to go in somewhere, preferably leaving as many hula hoops and rabbit poo media in the eheim as possible. then next time you clean the filter, or beforehand if you want, take your old sponge out and put the proper eheim stuff back in. by then it wont be relying on your old sponge to filter, as your hoops and poo will be doing the majority of the work.

actually, you might be better off putting it in the bottom tray, instead of/with the hula hoops, as the water gets pulled up through the filter, meaning your good bacteria will get pulled up past the new media. so yeah put it as low down as possible.