Question About Transferring Mature Media...

[auburn97]

Just bought a second 10-gallon tank and plan on doing a fish-in cycle with a betta. Both tanks have the same Marineland bio wheel filter. Can I take the blue nylon/carbon filter cartridge from the established tank and swap it with the new one in the new tank once ammonia levels begin to rise? Would this be sufficient to speed the cycle process in the new tank? And more importantly, would this have negative long-term impact on the established tank?

 

[Fishy friend2]

you cant switch all the media from the other tank. if you do, you are just starting a new cycle in the established tank. you can take out a small portion out and put it into your new tank though

 

[auburn97]

Well, I'd still have the bio wheel working its magic in the old tank. Do you think that would be enough to maintain the water quality?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Not really. Just cut the filter media in half.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

What is your stocking in the other 10 gallon?


It is possible that splitting your bacteria like you suggest would work, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have a heavy stocking in the 10 gallon.

One other option would be to take the new nylon filter, wet it down with TANK (dechlorinated) water and rub it all over the old one. Then, place the new, rubbed one into the old tank (hopefully a little bacteria will transfer to help the old filter biowheel) and the old nylon cartridge into the new filter. The MOST important thing is to keep a very close eye on the ammonia/nitrite in the OLD tank. Having only one fish and the old filter cartridge in the new filter, you won't have to worry about that. But, you might need to worry about the old tank a little.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Well, I'd still have the bio wheel working its magic in the old tank. Do you think that would be enough to maintain the water quality?

how big is the tank and what is your stocking

 

[auburn97]

Current stock is two platies, two guppies, a single small platy fry and two ghost shrimp in a 10-gal tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Your stocking is right about where it should be for a 10 gallon. I think you should be fine. Just be careful with the old tank. Be prepared to do water changes, in case you have a mini-cycle.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with TOS and Eagle, the biowheel will be there in the old 10g with a good amount of bacteria but you should still not take more than half of the other sponge, or maybe a third. Since they are the same types of sponges you can just swap the cut parts. And as eagle says, you'll need to monitor your stats closely and watch for mini-spikes in the old tank. In the new tank it will be pretty easy with one fish but the basics of a fish-in cycle still hold and you want to adjust the size and frequency of your water changes such that neither ammonia nor nitrite(NO2) spikes to 0.25ppm or above. With just a betta you may only see zeros.

~~waterdrop~~