Mature Filter In New Tank

[20alex07]

How long should i leave my new tank before putting fish in. I have added to it my old filter from a tank that is about four months old the filter was running in my old tank up until i filled my new one so it was out of the water like 10 seconds?

 

[doresy]

How long should i leave my new tank before putting fish in. I have added to it my old filter from a tank that is about four months old the filter was running in my old tank up until i filled my new one so it was out of the water like 10 seconds?

Hi, are you feeding the matured media, ie with ammonia?

 

[20alex07]

Would it help to put in some water from my old tank? I am also going to add all of my old gavel and ornaments

 

[fergalthefish]

when i moved my fish to a bigger tank i moved everything over together,i.e the filter, water, ornaments and fish.just topped up with new water and had new gravel in already, oh and i had already got temperature set up few days before but apart from that the changeover was very easy with no fatalities.

 

[doresy]

Would it help to put in some water from my old tank? I am also going to add all of my old gavel and ornaments

Hi, you did not answer my question

I am thinking that you are starting a new tank and using some matured media from a cycled tank...yes?

If you do not feed the filter then any bacteria in it will die quite quickly. Very little bacteria is in the water/gravel/ornaments.

What I suggest is still following the Fishless Cycle clik here program. To do this you will need ammonia (pure) and a water testing kit (API Master kit will do nicely)

Adding matured media to a new filter speeds up cycling wonderfully but you STILL have to follow the program.

If you are replacing ALL the media in the new filter with matured media or placing the old cycled filter in the new tank then in effect you can add fish right away.

Remember, short cuts and impatience kills fish

 

[20alex07]

Yes i am adding my old cycled filter. sorry if i didnt explain clearly

 

[doresy]

Yes i am adding my old cycled filter. sorry if i didnt explain clearly

The question I first asked was....Are you feeding the filter? Ie. adding ammonia or ammonia source

 

[Inchworm]

Hi 20alex07

If you set up a new tank using an old filter with mature filter media, it will be have enough beneficial bacteria in it to support the same number of fish it has been supporting in the old tank. If you are upgrading your tank, just move the filter AND the fish at the same time and all will be well. Then, give it a week or two to settle in and begin adding additional fish a few at a time.

The only trouble you are likely to have is if the filter (with its beneficial bacteria) remains in an empty tank for any length of time. In this case the bacteria will need to be fed or they will begin to die off.