MudHog

Hey Guys/Gals,

I'm setting up one my of old jackpot aquariums and it's the 5G that is exactly like the Eclipse System 6. I have some replacement filters and a bio-wheel that will deliver Thursday coming up. I filled with water last Saturday and it has been running ever since on my counter. I don't know when I will make my next trip to get some bacteria in a bottle to help the cycle, can I use something out my current 37G? How would I collect some?

peacemaker92

You can take out some of the filter media from your cycled 37g. You can also take out some gravel and put it in the 5g. What I'd do is take out some of the filter media from the 37g. Well, you can wait for the other members to give you more advice. Hope you're 5g goes on good. Good luck!

Shawnie

Yes filter media, gravel, and any decorations..just o see the 5 gallon...sholdnt take too long congrats on the new tank!!

whats your stocking plan?

Lucy

I smell a new betta.

MudHog

By saying filter media, Do I just take a filter from the 37g when I change it and let it sit inside the 5g tank? Do I need to "feed" the tank any also? I have an anchor in the 37g that I can take out and put in the 5g too.

Stocking plan is a betta.


Once this one is up and running, it will be time to setup my 10G for here at my office.

Lucy

You can just cut a peice of the filter media and put it in your tank. No need to move the whole thing and set off a mini cycle.

Or you can take the filter media from your 5 and put it in your 37g for 2 weeks if you want to wait that long.

If you're not adding fish right away, yes feed it.

Still keep an eye on the parameters to be on the safe side.

What's going in the 10g?

Shawnie

someones got a bad case of MTS

MudHog

Thanks Lucy. I do plan to bury the bio-wheel in the gravel in the 37g when they deliver. It's time for a filter change in the 37g, so I may just take that filter and let it sit in the 5g for the time being.

10G plans are live plants and cherry barbs and sepera (sp?) tetras


Shawnie, you hit the nail on the head. Around Christmas my wife and I are planning to get into saltwater. This means we will have a 37g freshwater and around a 24g saltwater in the living room.

Lucy

MudHog, is the filter media really that much of a mess? If it's not ripped the shreds, I'd just rinse it in old tank water and reuse it. I can't remember the last time I completely changed mine out.
I'd just hate to see you lose all that bacteria.

You'll really enjoy the serpae. I have the short finned variety, I've heard the long finned can be nippy so becareful.

MudHog

No the filter isn't in pieces, but I generally rinse it once two - three weeks after install and then replace it another two - three weeks after the rinse.

I'm aware that some bacteria is on the filter, but won't most of my bacteria come from the bio-wheel?

Lucy

Yeah, but a lot is on the media also. I have the cartridges, I cut a hole and emptied the carbon out so I don't have to worry about it expiring.
Replacing it everything 3 weeks can get expensive.

Shawnie

I agree with lucy...I dont think ive replaced mine in about a year...although I do have a new cartridge seeding in my 55 gallon because it is time for a total change out...but not for about 2 more weeks of it sitting inside the bottom of my tank LOL ....im too paranoid in starting a mini cycle ...not to mention, every other day water changes on a 75 gallon is enough work without adding the 55 gal to it!!

goodluck and cant wait to see them ALL set up

MudHog

A light bulb just went off in my head. Thanks for that tip and I never thought about taking the carbon out. What do you do for carbon? Do you buy it seperately and put it in the basket by itself when you use it?

Lucy

I don't use it at all. It's good to filter out meds if you had to medicate the tank.

Shawnie

I only use it on my overstocked tanks and then I change it out every 3 weeks. (just the carbon not the filter )...not on my others...I do as lucy and cut a hole in the cartrdige and drain it out

Lucy

I watched a thing on the Food Network last night, they said activated carbon absorbs odors in refrigerators better than baking soda.

Guess where I'm going to putting mine from now on. lol

MudHog

thanks for yall help.

So what is the main purpose of carbon in an aquarium? Is it only for odor control? That being said, frequent water changes would control odor right?

Shawnie

carbon is a remover of unwanted things in the tank..ammonia, meds, etc...but if not changed out often, it releases whatever its removed from the tank back in as it can only absorb so much...

wow lucy great idea!! gonna try it also in the fridge LOL