What Is "mature Filter Media" Exactly.. Im Confused

[MollyFresh]

Hi, I want to know what mature filter media is, how I get someone elses in my tank, and if the type of filter someone has matters at all.

 

[RedeyesUK]

Basically, it's the media (sponges, bio balls, ceramic rings etc) from an already cycled filter. This should hopefully contain a culture of the beneficial bacteria needed to start cycling your tank.

To get someone elses, you just get your donor to take some of the media out of their filter (just taking out a part and replacing with new media won't really hurt an established tank) and cram it into yours.

Obviously it helps if the donor filter is the same as yours, but if not, you just squeeze the media in anywhere that fits - as long as it's in the filter stream and isn't causing any blockages, it doesn't really matter too much.

Once your tank is cycled, you can just take the mature media out and throw it away, it's done its job.

And remember, filter media has to be kept wet to keep the bacteria alive!


Hope that helps!


Garry

 

[MollyFresh]

okay so have a fluval 1 plus, which has no openings on it at all doesent really help much.. If you can't put the media in the filter.. can you put it somewhere in the tank?? or near the filter??

 

[dave1987]

your fluval 1plus will come apart for when u need to change or clean the filter were the filter material is already in it just fit it in there or cut it 2 size u just want as much as possible to go in there for a short while

 

[RedeyesUK]

I also have a fluval 1 plus - it does come apart, quite easily!

It pulls into two pieces, just around where the top suction cup is. Grab it at both ends and pull, it'll come into two parts, and you'll be able to get to the sponge inside (just pulls out).

While you have the sponge out, I'd recommend cutting it in half (lengthwise) to give you two seperate panels - this way, you can put any donated media in between the two sponges. This also means that in the future, you can clean/swap/donate half of your filter sponge and replace it with new, leaving the other half (complete with bacteria colony) in place.

 

[MollyFresh]

ooh okay, thank you~ Well Then All I need is some filter media.. I made a post but knowone seems to live in new jersey..
even when I get mature filter media and put it in my tank.. what would i do then??

ooh okay, thank you~ Well Then All I need is some filter media.. I made a post but knowone seems to live in new jersey..
even when I get mature filter media and put it in my tank.. what would i do then??

 

[dave1987]

do you have a tank ready to put it in and is it running

 

[MollyFresh]

I have a 10 gallon that is cycling..I really am not sure if it really is cycling because I have some ammonia and no nitrites or nitrates at all.. its running..

 

[RedeyesUK]

Once you've got the media in there, you should follow the instructions on cycling (fishless or fish-in, depending on your circumstances) and continue that as normal.

The idea of the media donation is to give your bacteria colony a kick start, reducing the cycle time to maybe a few days. If you can get a big enough piece of media, a small tank/filter like yours may well be cycled pretty much instantly. If this is the case, leave the donated media in for a couple of weeks to allow your proper filter media to populate.

 

[dave1987]

i dont no much about that part but i no mature filter media will speed up the progress of a cycle alot quicker maybe some one else can help on that part.. have u tested the water could you post the readings pls

 

[MollyFresh]

Yeah I will test the water now. give me a sec

 

[MollyFresh]

Nitrates-0
Nitrite- 0-0.5
Hardness- Very Soft- Soft
pH- Off the chart alkaline
Kh- high, off the chart
Ammonia- You decide.. I would say .50