Filter Media

[garrym1983]

Hi, ive managed to find someone who is willing to let me have some of their filter sponge to seed my uncycled tank. He runs two internal filters in what can only be described as a swimming pool of a tank. How much should i be willing to take and what do i do with it once ive got it home. if he gives me the whole sponge can i simply swap his with mine?? Also with the expectation that his sponge is going to be crammed with the bacteria i need, do i need to add anymore fish??

Thanks

 

[Tizer]

Stocking is not filter related, stock is down to tank size.

Take enough media to fill your filter if you can, then get home and put it in your filter, cut up sponges to fit etc.

Then either add fish and test the water with your test kit for the next few weeks and water change accordingly.

Or add household ammonia and get a jump start on a fishless cycle, all described in the beginners section.

 

[garrym1983]

tank has a dozen fish in already, is this enough for the bacteria to thrive on if i introduce this established filter sponge

 

[Louiseness]

tank has a dozen fish in already, is this enough for the bacteria to thrive on if i introduce this established filter sponge

It depends on how many fish are in the donor tank. If he has, say 2 filters and 100 fish, and you take 1/2 of one filter's media, you can technically stock up to 25 fish. You can safely take about 1/3 of a tank's total filter media without significantly disturbing it and causing it to cycle.

If you take as much media as you can fit, you may have some die-back because the ammonia output from your fish is less than his, but this won't matter because the ammonia output will feed enough bacteria to support YOUR fish.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Also make sure the mature media is placed where the water enters the external filter, example in my tetratec the inlet into my external pushes water to the bottom, so the bottom tray has filters the water first