Got My Dream Tank Setup! Couple Questions

HI Everyone,

I've been talking about upgrading from my 20G long to a 75G for over 2 years now. I finally did it! Put it in a great location, rinsed 50 pounds of pool filter sand and put in tank (will do about 15-20 more pounds tonight), set up the filter, filled with water, and turned her on.

I'm going to dose with ammonia tonight and seed from my current tank. Hopefully I can move the fish within 3 weeks.

I had a couple questions though.

1. Would there be any long term damage to a filter from running it dry for 30-60 seconds? It's a Forza FZ9 canister filter. I couldn't figure out how to prime it while it was plugged in for a little bit so the impeller spun dry.

2. How close should the filter intake tube be to the sand once everything is all up and running. Right now, it's about 1.5-2 inches off the sand but it's not in "operational mode" at this point.

3. Does the filter string grow bacteria (blue coarse and white fine string)? Or is it just the bio balls and ceramic tube things. I've never used a canister filter before and want to know if I can replace those ever, and where to put the seed from my current aquarium.

Thanks!

 

It would take days of running dry to hurt the bacteria.
You intake should be at least 6" above the sand.
Do you mean sponges? All the filtering material should be rinsed out in tank water when you see the filter flow slow down.

 

#1: No, the filter will not be damaged by running dry for a minute. I have had them run for longer times (this was before I learned the mechanics of it)

#2: keep the intake tube at height where it will not suck up the sand. Also use a large pore perforated sponge on the intake. It is awesome and block the large debris, as well as serve as extra media in long run.

#3: everything grows bacteria. Just place your old filter media into the chambers of the canister filter. (Make sure the water in the tank is absent of chlorine. Or run filter for two days and then place old media in canister and move fish)


Happy tip from my experience: no need to wait for 'three weeks'. I have played the "move the filter media to new tank" and move fish instantly. And have always had success with no loss.

 

It would take days of running dry to hurt the bacteria.
You intake should be at least 6" above the sand.
Do you mean sponges? All the filtering material should be rinsed out in tank water when you see the filter flow slow down.

Oh I meant hurt the filter motor from running dry for a minute. There's no bacteria in the filter at this point.

They're not really sponges. My HOB filter uses an actual sponge, but this canister filter has this stringy type stuff. It's like steel wool but made out of some nylon rather than steel.

#1: No, the filter will not be damaged by running dry for a minute. I have had them run for longer times (this was before I learned the mechanics of it)

#2: keep the intake tube at height where it will not suck up the sand. Also use a large pore perforated sponge on the intake. It is awesome and block the large debris, as well as serve as extra media in long run.

#3: everything grows bacteria. Just place your old filter media into the chambers of the canister filter. (Make sure the water in the tank is absent of chlorine. Or run filter for two days and then place old media in canister and move fish)


Happy tip from my experience: no need to wait for 'three weeks'. I have played the "move the filter media to new tank" and move fish instantly. And have always had success with no loss.

Ok awesome. I figured a minute wasn't long enough to burn out the motor but didn't want to have it fail 6 months from now.

And that's probably a good idea.... I can just move the sponge and bio-rings from my HOB filter (for 15-30 gallons).

I'll talk it over with my fiancé. The only two issues with that approach is that we don't want the snails transferring over. If any snails transfer from me seeding it, they'll die since they'll be in there for weeks without any food. And I want to use my current tank as a quarantine tank while I increase my stock.

 

The spongy and floss types of materials can grow bacteria....but not as well as true biomedia. The sponges and flosses are really more for mechanical filtration than biological. But as has been stated, everything in your filter and tank will hold some amount of bacteria.