Preparing Filter Media For Cycling

[CageUK]

I'm just off to get my ammonia in preparation for my fishless cycling process. I want to use the opportunity to prepare some additional filter medium that I can use to cycle a larger tank that I intend getting once this one is up and running (I definately don't want the same nightmare I have just been through).
I just have a few questions if you will indulge me please.

1. I have a Juwel filter. Which is the best part of the filter to use to transport? The white wool filter looks cruddy and looks to be the ideal candidate to grow bacteria etc however of course the actual blue biological filter should be the one to breed the bacteria.

2. If it is the blue one then should I take the uppermost or the lower sponge to populate the new tank or is there normally an equal split of the little guys between the two sponges!

3. Does removing one of the filter sponges (potentially half of my bacteria) cause any problems in the donor tank, ie ammonia spikes or anything as obviously the bacteria colony grows to suit the size of the tank population.

4. I've seen lots of comments on Tetrasafe start on this forum and on the net and I just wondered what the updated opinion was. The community seems to be pretty much divided on this one!


Cheers

Mark

 

[CageUK]

2. If it is the blue one then should I take the uppermost or the lower sponge to populate the new tank or is there normally an equal split of the little guys between the two sponges!

Just to clarify, I intend to buy a new sponge and cycle that at the same time as I am cycling my existing tank. Therefore, I would use 2 x biological sponge for instance but wasn't sure which of the two I would then use as the donor sponge...sorry for any confusion.

Cheers

Mark

 

[-germ-]

1. All your filter material is considered to be a biological filter, although the blue stuff (no idea) may be aimed specifically at the purpose due to surface area, maybe use a little of both and squeeze all the dirty media into your new filter sponge, as you would when cleaning the media.

2. Depends on the filter, in mine there appears to be more filth and therefore i assume more bacteria at the top of my sponge. It isn't an exact science and as long as you get some AOB/NOB into your filter and monitor the tanks suitably you should be fine.

3. Potentially, yes. But the bacteria should build up fairly quickly, as i've just mentioned keep the old tank closely monitored and maybe perform some extra water changes as a preventative measure.

4. Useless and a waste of money IMO, the only bacterial boosters of any use are those that are kept refrigerated, in the UK that would be Bacinettes (if i remember correctly). Even these are debatably not as good as they could be, due to them most likely containing the incorrect form of NOB (Nitrobacter instead of Nitrospira) http/aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/64/1/258 although they should help with cycling your Ammonia.
I think most Maidenhead Aquatics sell Bacinettes.