Elite Stingray Filter

[fluttermoth]

Just don't take more than a third of the mature media or you may leave their tank without enough bacteria to support their fish

You can cut the sponges up as much as you like to fit them into yours

 

[Skins]

Just don't take more than a third of the mature media or you may leave their tank without enough bacteria to support their fish

You can cut the sponges up as much as you like to fit them into yours

+1, important tip there from Fluttermoth.

Keith.

 

[mmccx]

Just don't take more than a third of the mature media or you may leave their tank without enough bacteria to support their fish

You can cut the sponges up as much as you like to fit them into yours

There tank and filter is a lot bigger than mine so probably would only take much less than a third. My main worry would be destroying there tank so I will be very cautious if I get to do it tommoz!

Again cheers for the help!

 

[fluttermoth]

You're very welcome

 

[weezawoo]

Also you could take some of their gravel if they are using gravel.then hang it in a net in ur tank this has good bacteria on it too.

 

[fluttermoth]

There's very little bacteria in the gravel. If the OP is getting some sponge, there's not really any point in taking gravel as well.

 

[mmccx]

Also you could take some of their gravel if they are using gravel.then hang it in a net in ur tank this has good bacteria on it too.

Might have to borrow some of their gravel to then! 

My next question is when I have planted the mature media do I need to feed it ammonia until my tank can process 5ppm ammonia in 12 hours like the fishless cycle or is the process involved in doing this different? I only ask as I'm not quite sure what to do next I.e could I add fish within a few days or does something need to happen in the tank first?

So many question I have 

 

[mmccx]

Woops just realised I quoted the wrong person lol

 

[weezawoo]

Do u have a test kit?a liquid 1 is best.if u can add ammonia and test if it is procesing it already that shud mean u can add a few fish pretty much imediatly.as their tank is bigger technically it shud be able to proces it. If u monitor the levels u shud b ok

 

[mmccx]

Ordered the api one almost a week ago from amazon but still hasn't arrived!

 

[mmccx]

so i have now added the mature media I collected earlier.

I broke open the baskets holding the carbon and zeolite, poured out the contents and replaced it with the mature media, (i.e the mature media is now sat in the baskets that used to contain the carbon and zeolite). I then added 3ml of ammonia (god that stuff is potent) to keep the bacteria happy, now I am going to buy a net as i also took some gravel which i intend to hang in the tank.

I still currently have no way of testing the water as I'm waiting for the test kit to arrive, but until that happens, do you think that 3ml will be enough for a 6oltr tank until it arrives? or will I need to add some more later and in the morning?

 

[Skins]

so i have now added the mature media I collected earlier.

I broke open the baskets holding the carbon and zeolite, poured out the contents and replaced it with the mature media, (i.e the mature media is now sat in the baskets that used to contain the carbon and zeolite). I then added 3ml of ammonia (god that stuff is potent) to keep the bacteria happy, now I am going to buy a net as i also took some gravel which i intend to hang in the tank.

I still currently have no way of testing the water as I'm waiting for the test kit to arrive, but until that happens, do you think that 3ml will be enough for a 6oltr tank until it arrives? or will I need to add some more later and in the morning?

No don't add any more for now, fingers crossed your test kit will be with you tomorrow.

Keith.

 

[waterdrop]

Also you could take some of their gravel if they are using gravel.then hang it in a net in ur tank this has good bacteria on it too.

Unfortunately, this will do next to nothing compared to direct introduction of mature media into the new filter, so is not really necessary assuming you are able to follow through with the media. In cases where someone can't get the media this sort of action is better than nothing though.

Totally agree with advice in this thread that the key things are to not remove more than 1/3 of the biomedia from the "donor" filter and to already be dosing the new tank with 4ppm or so of ammonia concentration for the bacteria when they arrive in the new filter. The usual etiquette when obtaining mature media from another person is to purchase a full set of new media for them, from which you cut/divide enough to replace what you are taking. Keep the donated media in tank water, typically in a plastic bag, when moving it.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[mmccx]

Also you could take some of their gravel if they are using gravel.then hang it in a net in ur tank this has good bacteria on it too.

Unfortunately, this will do next to nothing compared to direct introduction of mature media into the new filter, so is not really necessary assuming you are able to follow through with the media. In cases where someone can't get the media this sort of action is better than nothing though.

Totally agree with advice in this thread that the key things are to not remove more than 1/3 of the biomedia from the "donor" filter and to already be dosing the new tank with 4ppm or so of ammonia concentration for the bacteria when they arrive in the new filter. The usual etiquette when obtaining mature media from another person is to purchase a full set of new media for them, from which you cut/divide enough to replace what you are taking. Keep the donated media in tank water, typically in a plastic bag, when moving it.

~~waterdrop~~

Already replaced what I took from their media, they had a spare media so I cut that up to replace what I took with the new media, I took a bit of gravel to as I figured it would do no harm and maybe help a little (even if its not that much of a help)

As I said earlier I dosed with 3ml ammonia in a 60 ltr tank, judging by other threads I've read in regards to fishless cycles and how much they have been adding to obtain 5ppm I think this will give me around 3ppm at a guess but I cant be sure until I test the water which will hopefully happen tomorrow!

 

[mmccx]

ok so the royal mail tried to deliver my api kit today but as i wasnt in they just took it to my local post office (not sure why they couldnt leave it round the back like they did with my £700 laptop!)

So anyway in the interests in keeping the batcteria in my mature filter medi should i add any more ammonia? say a few ml just to keep them happy?