What to do...

[mike45]

Now, I had another topic on fishless cycling, and someone told me to put my 10 gallon filter on my established 29 gallon tank for 1 or 2 weeks. I was also told to add filter media from my 29 gallon tanks filter. My first question is, what exactly is filter media? I have an aquaclear 300 on my 29 gallon tank, and a whisper filter on my 10 gallon.

Now if I was to do this, how would I test my water when I put my 10 gallon filter back on the 10 gallon tank? Would the nitrites and ammonia rise?

Thanks.

 

[lougotzz]

well i really dont know but i do know you suck!!

 

[lougotzz]

just kidding, you dont need to be mad at me, do you??

 

[mike45]

Well, if anyone BESIDES lougotzz reads this post, can you answer me?

 

[Sasha]

I've done the Fishless Cycle on two of my tanks: my 46 gallon and my 29 gallon. I believe that filter media is the yucky stuff that get trapped in the filter sponges and containes the bacteria. I squeezed one of my filter sponges from my established tank into the filter in the new tank.

 

[tstenback]

Hi mike45
The filter media is the sponge, wool, charcoal etc that is in your established tanks filter. If you add some of this to a new filter it will speed the development of the bebeficial bacteria you need to get your new tank cycled. If you add enough of it it can really make a difference. Also running the new filter on an established tank will speed up the cycling of the filter so that it can quickly cycle you new tank. (if any of that made sense )

When you put the filter back on your 10 gal then add some ammonia to bring the reading up to about 5 ppm and the next day measure the ammonia again. It should have dropped some, and may even be zero or near zero as remember you have cycled the filter which is where your main bacteria colony resides. after this follow the fishless cycling routine until the ammonia and nitrITEs are zero and the nitrATEs are positive, usually around 20 or more. HTH

 

[mike45]

Thanks for the replies guys, I understand now.