Any Ideas how I can quickly cycle my new tanks when I set them up? I cant put the filters in the existing tank athough I could clean one of the sponges from it in the new tanks.
Quick filter seeding help needed
- Thread starter stannyblade
- Start date
I usually use up to 25% water from a healthy established tank. Rarely have I had any problems by doing this.
Is it then ready for fish?
Sorry but Ive fish waiting for me all over the place so I need to sort em quick
Sorry but Ive fish waiting for me all over the place so I need to sort em quick
I use half old tank water by doing a big w/c on existing tanks.
I also seed the sponges/ fliter medium in the new tank by either swopping a sponge (or ceramic whatever) with a mature tank or if cant do that squeeze some brown gunk from mature sponge into new filter.
then I put some dither fish in and fish food for 24 hours and check all is ok and gradually add a few fish each day.
I also seed the sponges/ fliter medium in the new tank by either swopping a sponge (or ceramic whatever) with a mature tank or if cant do that squeeze some brown gunk from mature sponge into new filter.
then I put some dither fish in and fish food for 24 hours and check all is ok and gradually add a few fish each day.
Hi all,
There aren't many bacteria in the water, they are both in the filter and in the biofilm, substrate, on planted wood, moss etc and these are all good sources.
Like Irene says you can seed it from the filter sponge (or ceramic media etc) from the established tank, just swap 1/2 of them over from old to new.
If you only have 1 sponge, wring some of the mulm from it onto the new sponge, that contains the bacteria.
If you've got time (not in this case) and keep planted tanks the best method of cycling is actually to leave the planted tank for a couple of months, by that time the plants are fully rooted, the biofilm had developed and this is then a very stable environment, capable of withstanding the increased ammonia input from the fish addition.
cheer Darrel
There aren't many bacteria in the water, they are both in the filter and in the biofilm, substrate, on planted wood, moss etc and these are all good sources.
Like Irene says you can seed it from the filter sponge (or ceramic media etc) from the established tank, just swap 1/2 of them over from old to new.
If you only have 1 sponge, wring some of the mulm from it onto the new sponge, that contains the bacteria.
If you've got time (not in this case) and keep planted tanks the best method of cycling is actually to leave the planted tank for a couple of months, by that time the plants are fully rooted, the biofilm had developed and this is then a very stable environment, capable of withstanding the increased ammonia input from the fish addition.
cheer Darrel
Thinking about it I may be able to swap the existing air driven filter for one of the bigger new ones and also replace the airstone with another one for a week or till the tanks arrive next weekend. then do it again for the other two.
Hi all,
I keep a couple of spare sponge filters in the the tank all the time. I use Maxijet 600 powerhead with a 12" x 4" x 4" "Koi" sponge, cut into 3 (4" x 4" x 4") cubes, with a plain white ceramic tile siliconed to the bottom section.
I've drilled cut outs some white domestic waste pipe in 4", 8", 12" lengths, with the end siliconed to a tile (as the inserts) but you can buy these ready made, or just tie the top and bottom of with a cable tie. The Maxijets come with a strainer attachment you can use as a scaffold.
They are excellent biological filters and you get a back up filter, a spare sponge and peace of mind for less than £20.
cheers Darrel
I keep a couple of spare sponge filters in the the tank all the time. I use Maxijet 600 powerhead with a 12" x 4" x 4" "Koi" sponge, cut into 3 (4" x 4" x 4") cubes, with a plain white ceramic tile siliconed to the bottom section.
I've drilled cut outs some white domestic waste pipe in 4", 8", 12" lengths, with the end siliconed to a tile (as the inserts) but you can buy these ready made, or just tie the top and bottom of with a cable tie. The Maxijets come with a strainer attachment you can use as a scaffold.
They are excellent biological filters and you get a back up filter, a spare sponge and peace of mind for less than £20.
cheers Darrel