Filter Upgrade In 2 Week Old Tank

[jonnyuk]

hi there, i have a 40 ltr tank which is heavly planted. i have also just took in two platy's and 4 fry (long story). my tank currently has a foam internal filter but i'm upgrading to a fluval 2 (so i can make the old filter a second filter for just catching the substrate still floating around using filter floss.

my existing foam filter was taken from a mature tank and soaked in the bottom of the tank while it was transported (the tank also came with 3" of water in the bottom). the tank was then filled up the day after and filter started.

my question really is whats the best way to get my new filter going quickly. i have read that you can put the old filter foam in the new filter, soak the new filter in the squeezed out crap from the existing filter, rubbing the debris and gung off the old filter and onto the new filter, running the two filters side by side for a month.

advice on whats best is much appreciated.
cheers

 

[ChilliPepper]

Run both filters in the tank for about a month. That will seed the new filter. You can then remove the old one.

 

[OldMan47]

I almost always seed a new filter by cleaning an old one in the tank as if the tank was a cleaning bucket. It looks terrible but I usually can get through a fishless cycle in about a week after doing that. You could accomplish much the same thing by doing the seeding in a cleaning bucket with the new filter running on it. That way you don't make a mess of the tank that the platys and fry are in. Seed the new filter and return it to use with your other filter for a while. Things will develop on their own.

 

[jonnyuk]

cheers for the replys guys.

option two sounds like a plan. i plan on rescaping tomorrow night anyway so it will be a good time do do it.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I almost always seed a new filter by cleaning an old one in the tank as if the tank was a cleaning bucket.

I remembered this tip when you gave it to me over a year ago. Used the same method to clone my brother-in-laws tank for him......worked like a charm.

 

[talisker]

I almost always seed a new filter by cleaning an old one in the tank as if the tank was a cleaning bucket.

I remembered this tip when you gave it to me over a year ago. Used the same method to clone my brother-in-laws tank for him......worked like a charm.

i've used this method several times as well and it works great, i often see a bit of a spike in the levels after a few days and do a water change then it's ok after that