Seeding Media

chesterscot · Apr 28, 2009

hi peeps just wanted to ask if i put an extra filter sponge in my existing fluval 4 for a friend how long would it take to seed to help them cycle their tank
tx
regards scot

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

1 Month.

-FHM

chesterscot · Apr 28, 2009

thanx for that ill just give him one of my sponges then

scot

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

Your Welcome!

-FHM

CKutz · Apr 28, 2009

does it really take that long?
..i guess i might have had a bit more of an advantage. in my 30 gal, i used one of my gfs filters that she had in her filter for about a week to get it ready for me..and i also got the original gravel from the tank, which had been kept sorta damp (i bought a used tank)..i wasn't home to test it. it had 18 feeder fish (which probably dont have much of a bioload anyways), but it was reading 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite after 2 weeks. i forgot to test for nitrate though.
i think if you use a mature filter it will probably take 2-3 weeks.

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

CKutz said:
does it really take that long?
..i guess i might have had a bit more of an advantage. in my 30 gal, i used one of my gfs filters that she had in her filter for about a week to get it ready for me..and i also got the original gravel from the tank, which had been kept sorta damp (i bought a used tank)..i wasn't home to test it. it had 18 feeder fish (which probably dont have much of a bioload anyways), but it was reading 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite after 2 weeks. i forgot to test for nitrate though.
i think if you use a mature filter it will probably take 2-3 weeks.

Hey Ckutz!

Yes, one month is a good time period to safely seed a brand new filter/new media placed into a filter.

I am sure you could take it out in at a sooner time, but then your are going to risk a mini cycle.

Other people and I, have best results with keeping it in for a month. That is how long I kept my AC 20 on my 29 before putting it on my 10 gallon.

-FHM

CKutz · Apr 28, 2009

you have a 10 gallon too?
10, 29, 55, 55...aw man...getting really jealous haha hope your sister can maintain them once you go back to school

yea i see your point...does it make a difference if you just leave the filter in there? i just left the mature one in with the new one..figured it would just help get more out of the water and it doesn't clog up my filter at all

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

CKutz said:
you have a 10 gallon too?
10, 29, 55, 55...aw man...getting really jealous haha hope your sister can maintain them once you go back to school

yea i see your point...does it make a difference if you just leave the filter in there? i just left the mature one in with the new one..figured it would just help get more out of the water and it doesn't clog up my filter at all

And a 5 gallon! :lol:

Yeah that's fine if you leave the filter in there.

-FHM

drewry · Apr 28, 2009

id say a week scot as the filter is mature :good:

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

drewry said:
id say a week scot as the filter is mature

One week is too soon.

Yea of course the filter is fully cycled, but it takes time for the Autotrophic bacteria to start to colonize on the new media, especially in numbers that could take on a new tank without a huge mini cycle.

One month is what I say, this is what I have experienced, and this is what other members on here say as well.

Better safe than sorry. :good:

-FHM

chesterscot · Apr 28, 2009

thanx for the advise but as for been safe than sorry if theres no fish as its a fishless cycle my friend wants to do theres not much you can be sorry about lol
thanx anyway
regards scot

fatheadminnow · Apr 28, 2009

chesterscot said:
thanx for the advise but as for been safe than sorry if theres no fish as its a fishless cycle my friend wants to do theres not much you can be sorry about lol
thanx anyway
regards scot

Okay, well the longer you keep it in your filter, the shorter his cycle will be.

What you can do is:

Take some of your mature filter out right now and give it to him, and then replace what you took out with the new foam pad you put in your fitler.

-FHM

Inchworm · Apr 28, 2009

Please remember that the media will only be home to as many bacteria as your fish will provide waste products to support. You are just giving them more area to live on. If you eventually remove half of it, it will take a while for the remaining ones to reproduce to their maximum potential. Just as your friend will need to watch his water tests carefully, you should too.