How To Transplant Mature Media From Tank To Tank

[Keithoms]

So i am still having my cycling with fish inside problem. Nitrite still through the roof.

A friend has offered to give me some mature media.

1st Q: Is it the actual filter media we swap, or the black sponge beside it?

Can i:

A: Take his entire black sponge (if thats what you swap) and give him a new one
B: Cut off half of his black sponge and take it replacing it with half of mine

I know about transportation, no problem there.

Keith

 

[raptorrex]

So i am still having my cycling with fish inside problem. Nitrite still through the roof.

A friend has offered to give me some mature media.

1st Q: Is it the actual filter media we swap, or the black sponge beside it?

Can i:

A: Take his entire black sponge (if thats what you swap) and give him a new one
B: Cut off half of his black sponge and take it replacing it with half of mine

I know about transportation, no problem there.

Keith

well any media really, though i would avoid black things in a filter, anyway, as this often indicates the item is laced with Carbon, something most of the posters here try to avoid. just put your media in a section of your new filter.

 

[Keithoms]

Didnt really answer my question though.( Unless i read it wrongly , sorry if i did) Do i take half, whole? And there were carbon granules in the main filter cartridge. I really dont think the sponge is carbon. But correct me if you are sure. Heres a pici.

 

[Sunny_Bee]

I think it must be a penguine biowheel insert? They have black sponges. If your friend has a huge filter with lots of media, I'd take the whole thing, but if the sponge is the majority of his media, I'd take half. The more you can get the better, but you don't want to crash your friend's cycle either.

 

[Keithoms]

Ok here are pics.

Here is the black sponge i was talking about:

Here are the two mediums in the tank, one of left is not disectable.

And here is the filter compartment, please suggest places for things to go:

 

[raptorrex]

Ok here are pics.

Here is the black sponge i was talking about:

Here are the two mediums in the tank, one of left is not disectable.

And here is the filter compartment, please suggest places for things to go:

humm, the sponge is more a mechanical scrubber, whilst i am sure it will have some bacteria content, it would probably not be great. so the bag will be your real media. so if you cant disect it, its of no use to you. you will be removing, virtually, all the bacteria from your friends filter. that is unless i have missed something.

 

[Keithoms]

Oh, i think people are going by the fact my friend has the same filter. He doesnt. Im not sure what one he has yet until we go over.

Should i put any media in that empty watery bit down the bag of the bag filter? (From his)

Once it is in, does the bacteria spread? If so, thats fine.

 

[OohFeeshy]

If it's only to help deal with the nitrite spike, you should be OK to use, say, half of the black sponge (or whatever will fit in your filter). It would probably be helpful to do a water change first to decrease the nitrite for the bacteria to deal with (plus I can't remember if high nitrite levels act as an inhibitor...).

 

[Keithoms]

So if the guys filter has just black sponge in it, its ok to transplant some of my black sponge? Or is it just the big cartridge they colonize on.

 

[minxfishy]

Half of his mature sponge should be enough, just put it in with half of your new sponge and give him the other half of your sponge, yes the bacteria will eventually grow on the new piece as well.

 

[Ficious]

the wire looking sponge in your first pic is suppose to be the bio material. the one on the left is the mechanical filter with carbon inside which does contain SOME beneficial bacteria.

that wirey looking black sponge is your media and it should be pretty nasty looking.

 

[Keithoms]

So, you are saying i should get his black stuff and swap it with mine?