Easy Cloning

[Vegan Peaches]

My LFS got a new product in today (but no new fish -.-) called "Biomate Filter Media Balls". According to the package, if I leave these in an established aquarium in an area where the water flows, whenever I want to start up a new aquarium I can just pop them right it and *poo*, immediate cycle.

Well, I don't know about an immediate cycle, but I am trying to cycle a new tank, so I'm thinking about giving this a try. The balls are plastic in construction with a foam insert, and are pretty tiny. Anybody have experience with these or think they will aid in tank cycling?

 

[prankster705]

They are just another biological filter material, so yes in some time bacteria will colonise them and it is gonna be able to start living in the new aquarium, so yes it will cycle it.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Vegan Peaches

It makes sense to me. But, if you already have a tank running, why not just add some filter floss to your filter, or run a box filter in there for a while? This is something we have been doing for a long time and it works great.

I use AquaClear filters and they have a sponge in the bottom of a big chamber. I always keep this chamber filled with filter floss and whenever I need to set up a quarantine tank, or otherwise get a tank cycled quickly, I just take some out. The number of fish it can support is proportionate to the amount of filter floss used.

Beneficial bacteria is growing on all the surfaces of a cycled tank, but the two greatest concentrations are on the filter media and on the gravel. Transferring either of these will get your tank off to a great start and will probably cost less than the product they are selling.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

Newb question - what is filter floss, where can I get it and how long must it remain in the filter before I can use it to cycle a new tank? I don't get paid for another two weeks, so I wont be adding any fish to my new tank until then, but if that isn't enough time, then I'll just do it the old way with ammonia and test kits x.x

 

[prankster705]

http/www.fritzpet.com/ffloss.html
It should get established in 2 weeks, probably even less (about 1 week)

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Vegan Peaches

Filter floss is the exact same thing as the 100% polyester fiberfill that they sell in a fabric store to stuff toys and pillows. That can also be used, but be sure that it is not a blend with cotton in it.

On the link that prankster705 gave you, it suggest changing it once a month during regular use. That's because they are selling it and want to make money. It lasts easily for a year, but it does get unattractive looking. It can be rinsed in tank water just like any filter media.

I would say to give it at least 2 weeks, and more is even better.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

I have a Whisper Filter whose media is placed in a "fluffy bag" that looks alot like that fiber floss, just thicker. If I cut this bag into a thin layer, would it be possible to move that into my new tank, or would it just collect debris and not get much bacteria?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Vegan Peaches

If you will be using the same kind of filter on your new tank, you could just switch cartridges. It would be no different for your established tank than when you replace one.

Otherwise, I don't see why you couldn't take a new bag, empty the carbon out, fold it up and tuck it right into the old cartridge. It will pick up bacteria as the water flows through it. As long as the water can flow through your filter, it will cause no harm.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

That's the problem, though, it's not the same filter - same brand, just a larger size. I'm going to modify your idea a bit and just tuck the old filter media into the new filter, though, I'm just a little concerned that if I remove all that bacteria from my cycled tank, it will uncycle or at least become unstable. It only has 3 cories and a betta in it, though, they'll be fine, right?

I know I'm paranoid, but I don't want to harm my old tanks in order to set up a new one.