Colonizing a Sponge Filter

[littlefishie]

In about a week I'll be setting up a breeding tank for my German Blue Rams to spawn in, to see if the eggs will hatch.
I bought a sponge filter [safe for baby fish! lol] to put in the tank, and I'm trying to colonize it with beneficial bacteria from my larger tank. Right now all I can really do is float it in the tank, but I wasn't sure if I should be weighing it down with something. I tried cramming it in the filter but there's no way it'd fit.

Any ideas as to how it can become absolutely coated in bacteria? Thanks!

 

[Elisabeth83]

Why don't you just run the new sponge filter in the old tank for a week? Then transfer it to the new tank?

 

[littlefishie]

It runs on an air pump. I'm injecting Co2. I'd thought about that, but there's no place for me to really let it sit and run, with all the plants in there. Didn't seem like a good idea..

 

[Elisabeth83]

Ok well I've been told that the sponge needs to actually sit inside the filter. It has something to do with the water flow...it keeps the bacteria alive. Maybe just cram it inside the filter some how?

Whenever I am treating for a disease though I just float the sponge in one of my other tanks and when its time to put the sponge back into the tank everything has always been fine. Maybe you could float the sponge near the current..that way water will still be pushed through it?

Just some ideas...maybe someone with a little more experience with come along and have some better ideas

 

[littlefishie]

It's been floating in front of the filter current since last night.. I could try to clip it to the back of the tank to get the water flow running through it. I wanted to have it running last night but since I figured it'd screw up the Co2 injection, and it'd involve uprooting some plants, it would be better to ask here.

 

[keane]

the majority of the bacteria isn't in your water....it's in your filter and your substrate (sand or gravel)

if the sponge won't fit in your filter i would say place it at the bottom of the tank, touching your substrate, and place a rock or ormanent on it to stop it floating back to the top.

within a few days good bacteria will have migrated straight on to your sponge and you are ready to put it in your new filter.

hth

tbr

 

[littlefishie]

Right now I've wedged it inbetween my heater, the filter intake, and the output that hangs over the edge of the tank. It seems to be staying well and it's got the water from the filter flowing over it..
I'll see if I can make some space to hold it down later tonight.. I'm cleaning my room now, so I don't really want to start sticking my hands in the tank.. who knows what could end up in there!

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I'm colonizing the sponge part of a sponge filter now in my 20 gallon to be used in my fry tank. If you squeeze the sponge while putting it in the water it should sink right to the bottom. I have mine resting on the gravel - with nothing holding it down.

 

[BobK]

Hopefully that will be enough. Usually you want to have good flow through the sponge. The bacteria multipy much much faster when oxygenated water flows through it. The beneficial bacteria need the oxygen.

 

[littlefishie]

I did squeeze all the air out.. it still floats. It's got a weight in the filter part to keep it down.

BobK -- I was thnking that the water flowing would definitely help too.. Let's just hope leaving it there for a week will work!