New Filter Mature

[cloudburst]

Hi
Im just in the process of starting up another tropical tank. My Third. I want to mature the new external filter with some old media out of the other tank but the filter media isnt the best shape to fit the new filter. The Goldfish tank i have has some nice matured filter media. can i use the media out of the goldfish filter to mature the new tropical filter?

Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

yep, the filters will contain the same bacteria but it grows slower in cold water. Try to get the temperature & PH the same in both tanks and then move some material across. Once the filter material has been added (and the filter turned on), turn the heater on and let the tank warm up to normal tropical conditions (about 24C). Then start adding ammonia or some fish to keep the bacteria alive.

 

[jumblepod]

You can always cut the media out the other tank into the right shape i have done it before.

 

[cloudburst]

I just realized my tropical has snails in the tank and i know they like to colanize the filter foam so i'll use the foam from the goldfish tank. dont want snails in my new tropical.