Help Using Donated Filter Media

[tibby25731]

OK, i am getting a donated filter sponge tonight. My filter is internal and has space for another sponge in it, shall I just shove it in here next to my current sponge? Do i need to make sure the sponges are in contact? Is there anything else I need to consider? Need to do this right....

 

[Rooster]

Firstly - DO NOT hang about..... the instant the sponge is removed from the donor, its dying ! Pop it in a bag of tank water (donor tank) and keep it warm (wrapped in newspaper is good enough)
When you get home, have the new filter running and squeeze the old sponge a few times near the filter inlet - this will suck up the gunge and populate the new media... If you are keeping the old sponge, then you can add it to the filter as well.
Dont forget the little darlings need feeding.... so a few fish, OR pure ammonia is need (NEVER both !) and the tank really should be at "running" temperature (not cold) and the water need to be dechlorinated, if you are starting anew - set up the tank before you fetch the media.

 

[tibby25731]

I already have the tank set up, and have fish in. i will need to do a water change tonight. Should I do the change the instant I get home, then add the media? Because when i water change I take the media out and put it in the bottom of the tank so that it doesn't dry out. So, do I :
1 Change water, put back old sponge, add donated sponge or
2 Add donated sponge but stick it in the bottom of the tank with the other whilst I water change?

I will definitely need to water change, am having to every day at the mo and the ammonia had risen a little this morning, it will be high enoguh to warrant a change by the time I get home!

Thanks for any help!

 

[tibby25731]

Hi

I have the media. I squeezed it out a little over the running filter first, then stuffed the sponge in alongside my current sponge. I also poured a tiny drop of the murky water from the bag in over the filter too. Now what? my ammo is showing about 0.75 so i really wanna do a water change but I don't want to mess things up for the bacteria either. What should I do for the best? water change anyway? Thinking about 25% instead of the usual 50% I have been doing whilst cycling. Or should I wait till later, or even the morning? Please, someone give me further advice! I don't want my fish to suffer from the ammonia but I don't want to jeopardise the bacteria either..... HELP!

 

[Ferris]

Definitely do the water change - all the beneficial bacteria is in the filter media but that won't be affected in the time it will take you to do a water change. Given that the media has already been out of water today - keep it submerged in the remaining tank water whilst you do the water change if you are concerned.

 

[tibby25731]

Water change done. Now how long do I keep the donated filter media in with my filter media? The donated media could probably have done with a swish in old tank water, and mine will need this in the next week or so.... should I wait? Do i take the donated media out once I start getting a nitrite reading, or do I have to leave it until the nitrite has gone up and then down to zero??

 

[tibby25731]

bump!

 

[Rooster]

bump!

Just squeeze the hell out of it near the filter inlet.... once its "washed out" then you should be away.