Elite Stingray Filter

[mmccx]

Just a quick question really!

The filter I am using is the one that came with the tank. It isis an elite stingray filter. After just reading a few threads on here about this filter I find out that it has carbon and zeolite in. As I'm about to start cycling my tank (I have everything just waiting for my master test kit) i have read that zeolite will neutralise the ammonia that I need to put in in order to start the cycling process. Is this correct? if I am correct what would be a good idea to replace the zeolite with?

Also I may have an opportunity to have access to a mature tank that belongs to my gf parents. What would I need to take from there tank to help cycling?

I hope this all make sense i am writing it on my phone lol!

I look forward to reading your replies! Manh thanks

Karl

 

[Skins]

Just a quick question really!

The filter I am using is the one that came with the tank. It isis an elite stingray filter. After just reading a few threads on here about this filter I find out that it has carbon and zeolite in. As I'm about to start cycling my tank (I have everything just waiting for my master test kit) i have read that zeolite will neutralise the ammonia that I need to put in in order to start the cycling process. Is this correct? if I am correct what would be a good idea to replace the zeolite with?

Also I may have an opportunity to have access to a mature tank that belongs to my gf parents. What would I need to take from there tank to help cycling?

I hope this all make sense i am writing it on my phone lol!

I look forward to reading your replies! Manh thanks

Karl

Hi Karl,
My advice would be to remove your carbon/zeolite filter media and replace with some of your parents filter media(sponge). This would really help seed your filter and speed up your cycle.

Keith.

 

[mmccx]

Thanks I will take that out tommoz when in back home. So would I literally need to tear a small section of the mature filters sponge inside the filter? Sorry for the vagueness not entirely sure what the media refers to. I think it's the sponge stuff is this correct?

 

[Skins]

Thanks I will take that out tommoz when in back home. So would I literally need to tear a small section of the mature filters sponge inside the filter? Sorry for the vagueness not entirely sure what the media refers to. I think it's the sponge stuff is this correct?

Yes thats right m8, the gap you create by removing the carbon/zeolite fill with as much mature sponge media BUT not to much so it hampers your filters flow performance.

Keith.

 

[mmccx]

 unfortunately I'm not just how impressed my gf rents would be if I tore bit off of there own filters media ahh well...

I was watching on YouTube the other day where a guy took the sponge out washed it in some tank water in a cup and poured the contents I to a new tank. Will this give the same effect?

 

[luke4868]

 unfortunately I'm not just how impressed my gf rents would be if I tore bit off of there own filters media ahh well...

I was watching on YouTube the other day where a guy took the sponge out washed it in some tank water in a cup and poured the contents I to a new tank. Will this give the same effect?

Hey

It will give the same effect, just not on the same scale, if you leave the media (sponge) in, then it's bacteria are constantly being cycled around you tank and have a much higher chance of speeding the cycle up for you.

 

[fluttermoth]

It would help, but some actual media is best; the bacteria do stick onto the surface quite strongly. The best thing to do is buy some new sponge that will fit your gf's parents filter, and swap about a third so they keep 2/3 of the old and a third of the new and you take 1/3 to put in your filter.
If they really won't do that for you, then washings from their filter would certanily be better than nothing.

 

[mmccx]

So how does this type of cycling differ from a standard fishless cycle?

 

[fluttermoth]

Well...in essence it means you don't need to cycle at all. Cycling just means growing a colony of friendly bacteria in the filter, and using mature media means you have that already.

What I would do is dose your tank up to 1 or 2ppm with ammonia and then add the mature media (or the washings from one if your gf's parents won't let you have sponge!) and then keep testing. If the bacteria 'take' then you should see the ammonia disapper completely in a few hours.

That just ensures that the bacteria have survived the transfer and are working properly before you risk adding any fish.

 

[Skins]

So how does this type of cycling differ from a standard fishless cycle?

Adding mature media is not a cycling process. When mature media is added to a new filter it will help seed the new media within the filter with bacterias that remove the toxins(ammonia/nitrite) from your tank waters chemistry. When you start the cycle and these bacterias within the mature media start getting there source of food, reproduction kicks in and starts to colonise the new filter media.

Keith.

 

[mmccx]

So how does this type of cycling differ from a standard fishless cycle?

Adding mature media is not a cycling process. When mature media is added to a new filter it will help seed the new media within the filter with bacterias that remove the toxins(ammonia/nitrite) from your tank waters chemistry. When you start the cycle and these bacterias within the mature media start getting there source of food, reproduction kicks in and starts to colonise the new filter media.

Keith.

So the tank will be ready for stocking in a week or so rather than a month?

Cheers for all your help btw!

 

[Skins]

Your cycle process will no dought be shorter but by how much i don't know. When i cycled it took two and a half months without the introduction of mature media.

Keith.

 

[mmccx]

So my gf parents have agreed to let me have some of their media! So I just Want to clarify how I obtain this media with out ultimately harming their tanks ecosystem or fish!

So I assume I will have to open up their filter to get to the media, i will then cut a section of the media off and put into a container with tank water. Then I replace the section I cut with some new media in my gf parents filter.

Now In my filter (and in my case) open my filter and remove the zeolite. In the area ofthe filter that the zeolite was in I place the mature media section. Put tge filter back in the tank and then dose the water with household ammonia to feed the bacteria within the mature media.

Would this be the correct way to do it or am I completely wrong?

Sorry for all the probably stupid questions but I want to do it right!


Cheers

Karl

 

[Skins]

So my gf parents have agreed to let me have some of their media! So I just Want to clarify how I obtain this media with out ultimately harming their tanks ecosystem or fish!

So I assume I will have to open up their filter to get to the media, i will then cut a section of the media off and put into a container with tank water. Then I replace the section I cut with some new media in my gf parents filter.

Now In my filter (and in my case) open my filter and remove the zeolite. In the area ofthe filter that the zeolite was in I place the mature media section. Put tge filter back in the tank and then dose the water with household ammonia to feed the bacteria within the mature media.

Would this be the correct way to do it or am I completely wrong?

Sorry for all the probably stupid questions but I want to do it right!


Cheers

Karl

 

[mmccx]

Cheers Keith!

Kinda with this site had some kind of rep system! You haven very helpful! 