Using Filter Media From Established Tank To Speed Up Cycle

[er5reni]

If I give a friend a filter sponge to put in his established tank, about how long before it would be ready to use to speed up a fishless cycle?

 

[rabbut]

It would be better to do a direct swap for upto 1/3 of the mature media he has, but if this is not possible, the length of time you need to leave it depends on how bigger impact you want the media to make. I think 1-2weeks would be the sweet spot, if you are starting the cycle now, but there isn't an exact science to it. If you don't have your tank yet, I'd get the new sponge into his filter a month in advance

HTH
Rabbut