New Filter In Old Tank

[James9114]

So im setting up a 54 litre tank but am going to cycle the filter in my old tank i added it in about a week ago how long should i leave it in there for 3-4 weeks i was thinking would be enough. What our your thoughts on this

Cheers James

 

[Aquascaper]

The longer the better but it would be faster to transfer a sponge from the old filter to the new one. If they are both running in the same tank it shouldn't disrupt the filtration capacity already in place.

 

[fluttermoth]

It would take six to eight weeks for the new filter to become colonised to any extent with bacteria. Even then, if your current filter is coping with all the fish wastes, there won;t be much free ammonia around to feed another colony.

Also, the bacteria cling onto the filter media quite strongly, so there won't be any floating free in the tank to start off a colony in your second filter.

A 'donation' of the actual media from the mature filter is the best way to go about seeding a new tank's filter

 

[James9114]

Well i squeezed one of my old filters sponges around the new one while it was running so that would of helped

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Well i squeezed one of my old filters sponges around the new one while it was running so that would of helped

Unfortunately not, as fluttermouth stated, as the bacteria 'cling' on to your sponges really, really tightly (they rely on water 'flow' over them to survive) and a simple squeeze is probably not enough.
Why don't you move about a third of the old sponge into your new filter and replace with some brand new stuff?

Terry.

 

[James9114]

That's not an option as the new filter has a special shape to the sponge, what about cramming the sponge into the old filter?
That would be perfect thinking about it as it's a juwel internal fiter so i would just put the sponge in between the 2 baskets?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

That's not an option as the new filter has a special shape to the sponge, what about cramming the sponge into the old filter?
That would be perfect thinking about it as it's a juwel internal fiter so i would just put the sponge in between the 2 baskets?

It is more than a good idea to cut up the old sponges so it fits your new filter...there are very, very few cases where sponges wont fit into certain filters... as long as there is media there for you bacteria to thrive, then it will work.

Terry.

 

[James9114]

I'd rather wait than do that to be fair. The new filter has a hole running through it so that must be there for a reason, also would be much easier to take out and clean one filter sponge then little bits of sponge.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I'd rather wait than do that to be fair. The new filter has a hole running through it so that must be there for a reason, also would be much easier to take out and clean one filter sponge then little bits of sponge.

Your call, best of luck

Terry.

 

[James9114]

Cheers for the advice Terry. Would i be better adding the new sponge into my old filter then? Instead of just running it in the old tank, i.e letting the bacteria move onto the new sponge.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Cheers for the advice Terry. Would i be better adding the new sponge into my old filter then? Instead of just running it in the old tank, i.e letting the bacteria move onto the new sponge.

Most probably, yes...but ANY old sponges moved across will speed up your cycle in no time... i'm struggling to understand why you don't want to do it ?!

Terry.

 

[James9114]

Mainly because the new filter has a small strangely shaped filter with a hole through the middle and i don't want to lose any of my media from my old tank as it's fairly stocked. I do understand what your saying and it would be easier and much quicker but im in no rush.

 

[chris_mcr]

You can put the old media on top of a new sponge without comming in to contact with the hole running through the baskets. The old foam media will just squash down a bit when you put all the baskets together.

 

[Aquascaper]

If they are both running in the same tank it shouldn't disrupt the filtration capacity already in place.