How Long Do You Keep The Old Media In With The New?

[PaulQ]

I have learned that if you change your filter cartridge, you should keep some of the OLD white media in the filter so that you don't lose all the bacteria. I only have a one cartridge system.

I have cut open and into two flat pieces my old cartridge floss/filter material. I inserted half of into the new cartridge and took the other piece and put it in the box with the filter cartridge. Water is running through the whole system normally.

How long do I have to keep those extra pieces - most importantly the one I stuck in the box loosely - to allow for the appropriate transfer of bacteria?

Thanks!!

 

[SlyPolak]

I think it depends on how mature the "old" one is... my guess is that if you have more mature bacteria the transfer will be faster and easier.. I would give it 2 weeks of the 'old' media being in the flow first then the "new"

 

[OldMan47]

A small sample of filter media should be kept as long as possible to get a good transfer. There is no way I would ever trust a clone that relied simply on a sample of used media and was stopped after a mere 2 weeks. Unless you physically move bacteria to the new filter media, you can expect it to take quite a long time to transfer.
The problem is simple to state. Bacteria grow as films on surfaces. Moving from one surface to another means the bacteria must leave a home where they are quite content to take up residence on another media where no film exists yet. Although it will happen over time, it is not a quick process.

 

[PaulQ]

A small sample of filter media should be kept as long as possible to get a good transfer. There is no way I would ever trust a clone that relied simply on a sample of used media and was stopped after a mere 2 weeks. Unless you physically move bacteria to the new filter media, you can expect it to take quite a long time to transfer.

I was hoping it would be more of a continuation of the process. I tried cleaning the original 3 week old filter multiple times but it just kept getting clogged. I have a sample of that 3 week old filter in with a new one (no carbon) but if it doesn't continue the growth process, I guess there's no point. If understand you correctly, the transfer process only works with mature media.

 

[OldMan47]

You will get some benefit from a transfer of even partly developed bacterial colonies but it cannot be expected to do as much good as a strong clone from a mature filter.