Swapping Media.....

[mattlee]

Hi,
i am setting up a new tank tomorrow for my corys and a shoal of black neon tetras. i have 2 cycled tanks with 3 filters and 2 spare sponge filters. the sponge filters have been cycling in my 2 tanks for about 4 and 2 weeks and my other filters have been running for a few months.
if i added both sponge filters to the new tank and a hand full of media from 1 of my externals would this be safe enough to add my corys into the tank with?
i dont mind doing water changes but dont want to harm my corys as this tank is devoted to them and they have cost me alot of cash to get the fish i want. i will be adding 10/11 mixed gold and green stripe corys to a 3 foot tank and eventually a shoal of black neon tetras, the tank will be filtered by an aquaone cf1000 external but its not cycled as of yet. so i just want to know if the 2 sponges and a handfull of mature media will see the fish right until the main external cycles?

unless anyone has a spare bit of mature media they would lend/sell/give me to help.....

 

[Tolak]

I would do it. I set up a 29 gallon the same way a few days ago, one sponge, floss from a box filter, and 20 julii. My sponges are 4" cubes, give or take, sponge filters come in various sizes. If yours are the larger size it should be no problem.

Don't feed the first day, feed lightly the next week, same goes for the donor tank.

 

[mattlee]

I would do it. I set up a 29 gallon the same way a few days ago, one sponge, floss from a box filter, and 20 julii. My sponges are 4" cubes, give or take, sponge filters come in various sizes. If yours are the larger size it should be no problem.

Don't feed the first day, feed lightly the next week, same goes for the donor tank.

Hi Tolak,

1 of my sponge filters is about 6 inch round but has the air pipe through the middle and the other is really quite small. the larger of the 2 has been in my tank about 4 weeks and was mature when i got it but it sat damp for about 24hrs i think, the other was given to me and has been in my tank for 2 weeks so wont be mature enough yet i would imagine....
so if i add the larger sponge a handfull of ceramics and a floss pad from an external it should be ok....? would i be able to add the tetras yet or should i wait a few weeks, i was looking for about 10 ish?

 

[Tolak]

I would make sure it is all good with the corys, wait 3-4 weeks. These are new fish, cost good money, and as you mentioned the tank is devoted to them. This would give them a proper quar period.

As long as the sponge filter was wet it shouldn't be a problem. I often toss spare unused sponge filters in a tank with no air for a couple of days, then set up a tank using them. I've also gotten mature sponge filters shipped in with some expensive fish for a good isolated quar, these were just bagged, damp, with no water in the bag.

 

[mattlee]

I would make sure it is all good with the corys, wait 3-4 weeks. These are new fish, cost good money, and as you mentioned the tank is devoted to them. This would give them a proper quar period.

As long as the sponge filter was wet it shouldn't be a problem. I often toss spare unused sponge filters in a tank with no air for a couple of days, then set up a tank using them. I've also gotten mature sponge filters shipped in with some expensive fish for a good isolated quar, these were just bagged, damp, with no water in the bag.

ok thanks Tolak have you any experience with trying to keep water tanned as this is the look im after and bogwood ive used in the past only lasts so long..... im thinking of indian almond leaves or blackwater extract maybe......?

 

[Tolak]

Peat moss. Get the cheapest you can find, the more expensive kind often contains fertilizer. Keta Peat pellets are another option.

I run peat in a box filter with a bit of floss on top, the floss minimizes the peat escaping into the tank.

 

[mattlee]

Peat moss. Get the cheapest you can find, the more expensive kind often contains fertilizer. Keta Peat pellets are another option.

I run peat in a box filter with a bit of floss on top, the floss minimizes the peat escaping into the tank.

is peat moss special aquarium peat? can i get it from lfs?

 

[Tolak]

Any gardening center. A big bail cost me less than $10.

 

[mattlee]

Any gardening center. A big bail cost me less than $10.

many thanks ill keep my eyes open for some