First Canister Filter

So, I'm preparing for a larger tank. I have stepped into the realm of multiple tank syndrome. (someone help me.. o-o,)

I've been gathering the things I need before buying the tank itself and today my canister filter arrived. It's my first canister filter. I'm a bit scared I'm going to screw it up. Well, this thing has come with it's own filter media. It's got 3 baskets, a black sponge with decent sized holes for the beneficial bacteria to form, a mesh bag of activated carbon, a plastic bag of bio orbs and a plastic bag of bio ceramic rings.

The carbon I'll be taking out for now. I like tannins in my tank, so I don't want the carbon getting rid of them. Unfortunately the mesh back the carbon is in, isn't reusable. I was hoping to put the carbon elsewhere and put the bio items in the mesh bag and place in my 5.5g tank to start seeding. I don't have my tank yet, so I have time to try to seed these. Is there anything else I can use, household wise, to hold the bio-items in the tank so I can seed them and get them ready for the bigger tank? Can the bio-items sit on the floor of the tank, or do they need to be inside the bubble stream/current of the sponge filters to seed well? Too bad they're so big, otherwise I'd try putting them INSIDE the sponge filter canister.

I'm going to be placing the sponge in the 5.5g tank to seed as well.

Should I wash these off before using them? How would I go about doing that?

Thanks for any and all information regarding canister filters.

 

Usually seems best and far more effective to seed if they are in the flow of water. Do you have an HOB around? That might work. Put sone of the stuff for the canister in that.

 

Usually seems best and far more effective to seed if they are in the flow of water. Do you have an HOB around? That might work. Put sone of the stuff for the canister in that.

No HOB sadly. Just sponge filters for the 5g. I can probably set up my sieve to hold the bio-items in the water flow. Or find a container with holes in it to sit there too.

 

No HOB sadly. Just sponge filters for the 5g. I can probably set up my sieve to hold the bio-items in the water flow. Or find a container with holes in it to sit there too.

Might not be as effective, but should be enough maybe to give you a bit of a jump start

 

Might not be as effective, but should be enough maybe to give you a bit of a jump start

Even if it's a little bit, I'll be happy.
Should I wash these, and how should I go about it if I should?

 

Sometimes i rinse new media in tap water, sometimes tank water. Depends what i have available at the time! The newest media i put in my HOB was during a water change so it got the tank water. Basically just trying to rinse any dust n stuff off first before using.

 

Sometimes i rinse new media in tap water, sometimes tank water. Depends what i have available at the time! The newest media i put in my HOB was during a water change so it got the tank water. Basically just trying to rinse any dust n stuff off first before using.

I tend to save tank water to give to my aloe so I should have enough to rinse/wash these. Thank you for answering my questions.