Just A Quick Question?

[Hoveringpie]

Hi. I have posted a few posts about problems with my tank and yet to have any replies so I thought I would get some donor media from my friends fish tank. I have added it to my filter but the problem is there is too much media in now and the water is mm off the top of the filter. How long would you leave the donor pad in my filter to make sure the bacteria has spread ok to my own filter sponge? Two weeks or so?

Thanks in advance

Also I did tests on water from the donor tank no ammonia no nitrite pH at 7.5

 

[the_lock_man]

Depends on how long your friend is lending it to you for. If he/she is not fussed when they get the media back, then take out some of your new media, complete the cycle, then swap the donor media for yours and do another qualifying week. (This applies whether you are cycling fish-in or fishless)

If they want it back ASAP, then give it 3/4 weeks as a minimum, imho.

 

[Hoveringpie]

I bought her some more so it is mine but it's old and falling apart so I want to use my new one as soon as possible at the moment there is my, new one then her old one then ceramic pellets and filter floss

But I have also got a plec on order so I want him in as soon as possible and to continue to have adequate filtration.

Thanks for your quick reply it is greatly appreciated.

James

 

[the_lock_man]

I bought her some more so it is mine but it's old and falling apart so I want to use my new one as soon as possible at the moment there is my, new one then her old one then ceramic pellets and filter floss

But I have also got a plec on order so I want him in as soon as possible and to continue to have adequate filtration.

Thanks for your quick reply it is greatly appreciated.

James

What are you doing with the tank at the moment - do you have fish in the tank, or are you adding bottled ammonia?

 

[Hoveringpie]

I had fish in but they sadly died (Newby mistake) so the ammonia was there and it started my tank off but it's been 4 week and I only had the nitrite drop not the ammonia so I needed something to jump start it. At the moment my ammonia is at 1ppm nitrite at 0 pH is 8 when the ammonia goes down I will be adding a plec I have on order at the lfs. Thanks again

 

[Zikofski]

be careful as a healfy plec is a poop machine and could do more harm than gd but i am glad you have learn from your lesson i did the same as you glad your have done research what sorta plec you getting?

 

[Hoveringpie]

Tiger plec I have read on various websites they grow to about 2 and a half inch so perfect for me. He is at the lfs I asked them to keep him for me while my tank cycles and they were happy to keep him. My last fish tank I had my dad set up for me so I have never realy had to cycle my fish tanks as we just used a old filter from other tanks. So I have learnt the most important thing this time around.

 

[the_lock_man]

If the LFS are happy to keep your plec for a while, my honest opinion is that you'd be better off doing a fishless cycle with bottled ammonia - with mature media it's less likely to take ages. Just keep an eye on the ammonia, if you start to starve the bacteria, then you'll be back at square one pretty quickly.

 

[Hoveringpie]

Ye the day it goes to 0 hopefully in the next two days or so the plec or a few guppies are going to just to give it that extra kick. Doing tests every morning gents to. Make sure the water is OK

 

[Zikofski]

nice one make sure you take pics when its all done fingers crossed it goes well

 

[Hoveringpie]

I have put a few pictures in the members tropical fish photos section titled fluval edge of my tank if you would like to have a look