MaddieLynn

First of all, I'm wondering, which holds more of the good bacteria, filter media or gravel?

Second, since you can put cycled filter media in a new tank to instant-cycle it, can you put new filter media in an established tank for awhile to let the bacteria grow onto the new filter media? Would that work? If so, how long would it take?

Lucy

1) The filter media contains more bacteria.

2) Yep, a lot of us keep extra sponges and filter media in our established tanks in case we want to quick cycle a tank.

Shawnie

the filter media holds more...and yes you can put new media in for about 2 weeks and it should be seeded...

snappy fingers lucy LOL

CoryMac

When you decided to change your filter media when your tank is "established" do so during weekly water changes, use the "dirty good water" your taking out andrinse or soak the new filter in that water.Or your can use dechlorinated water. Elders please correct me if im wrong.

Shawnie

elders? LOL you must mean LUCY
no need for "dirty good water" as there isnt enough bacteria free floating to seed it and keep it seeded..just put the new filter media somewhere in your tank or hide it in a corner or even in your filter area for 2 weeks and it should be seeded enough to change out the old

CoryMac

what if you have have a bio wheel does it matter when , doesn't the bio wheel hold enough bacteria.

agabr123

no, from personal experience the biowheel alone doesn't have enough bacteria to keep a cycle going if you were to, for example, remove all of the other media and put it in a brand new tank that didn't have "seeded" gravel/substrate

CoryMac

i have 4 filters in my bio wheel can i change 2 & than change the other 2 in 2 weeks

agabr123

i'd give it a little more than two weeks, maybe closer to a month but otherwise that should be fine

kojen

for discussion sakes i had a ten gallon that i wanted to set up for a quarantine tank so i keep a filter for it in my other tank. I also took about five gallons from fifty five and did the other five gallons of water from the tap. that should then be safe for fish correct?

agabr123

adding the water from the 55 isn't doing anything but giving you nitrAtes really, it's fine to just put in treated tap water with the seeded filter you can also put some of your substrate into a nylon stocking and put it in your QT which should help a lot

CoryMac

i have quick filter on my powerhead that should hold lots of beneficial bacteria I change that once a month.I'm thinking that filter will help with the lack of bacteria when i change my bio wheel filter. I let my quick filters soak im my bio wheel for about 3 weeks or so.thanks for the info "agabr".

agabr123

no problem

kojen

ok well thank you i never thought about that. i love that there is so much different knowledge in this site. i do take a substantial amount of substrate into the quarantine when i set it up. I have had bad luck with fish lately and have been quarantining all new fish for over a week.

agabr123

you're welcome yeah quarantining new fish is definitely a great idea, i'd recommend QT for even longer, closer to two weeks actually

CoryMac

Hey you think like i do, is that good or bad

kojen

ok i am pretty much stocked for now unless i can find a place that sells medium sized texas cichlids. The last time i q'd for about ten days. But then moved them over because they were not doing well in such a small tank. (firemouth and convict) I will keep that in mind that i do not need to use the water since i am moving the filter and substrate. thanks

as for the thinking like you do i consider it a good thing. I like to think of myself as a practical thinker that can usually come up with a fairly good plan

CoryMac

sweet same here.