New Tank/New Filter Question

I'm having trouble finding a clear answer to my question... I was hoping someone could give me some quick input, as I'm still relatively new at this and this is my first tank move.

I'm planning to move my axolotl from his current 10-gallon tank over to a new 20 gallon long that I'm setting up this weekend. The current 10-gallon tank has an Aqueon 10 QueitFlow HOB filter that uses the standard slide in filter cartridges and I'll be converting over to a Fluval 107 for the 20-gallon setup. When cycling the new tank, what media am I taking from the Aqueon and where do I put it in the Fluval?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

You could just run both in tandem for a period of time until the 107 picks up the cycle, probably a few weeks. Maybe a month to be absolutely sure. Then take your hob away.

alternatively you could transfer the media over from your existing hob to the 107, but i dont know your existing filter well enough - it may be more hassle taking cartridges apart and trying to fit them in the 107. What media do you have in the hob at the moment?

 

I considered going the tandem route but was trying to avoid it due to space issues where the current tank resides.

Currently, the only thing in the filter is the standard cartridge (I attached a stock photo of what the filter looks like) which I don't know how I'd remove a piece of it. I have some "sponge-like" material hung under the water outlet to help reduce the water flow in the tank, but I'm not sure that counts as filter media.

 

I agree with carsonsgjs -- run both filters on the 20G for a while.

Per Aqueon, the QuietFlow 10 has a Bio-holster that is used for biological filtration. It's basically a plastic frame to secure the cartridge (from moving) and appears to be removable; however, given its size you can't use the Bio-holster as biological media inside a Fluval 107 without first cutting it up into small pieces. Not sure you'd want to do that without having a replacement Bio-holster in case you want to re-use the QuietFlow 10 down the road.

Edit:

Beneficial bacteria (BB) grow throughout the tank. Appreciably more BB grow where flowing water is in direct contact with air because of significantly increased oxygen availability. So the sponge-like material you have installed on the QuietFlow 10 has some beneficial bacteria. How much, who knows. Read the instructions for the Fluval 107 and see if there are media types that can/cannot be used. The question is whether the "sponge-like" material you have installed on the QuietFlow 10 can safely be used, especially without significantly impeding water flow through that filter. That includes becoming disintegrated and/or forced out of the media tray/container by water pressure and getting stuck in other parts of the Fluval 107.

 

I've attached a photo of the sponge filter that I am using to slow down the water output flow.

Maybe I misunderstood the original suggestion. I thought it was to run both filters in the 10G. I didn't think I could run both filters in the 20G and move the axolotl immediately because it wouldn't cycle fast enough. It would certainly be the easiest option - I just didn't think it was safe.

I suppose I could always just go for a tankless cycle on the 20G.... I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a better way that I was missing.

 

I've attached a photo of the sponge filter that I am using to slow down the water output flow.

Maybe I misunderstood the original suggestion. I thought it was to run both filters in the 10G. I didn't think I could run both filters in the 20G and move the axolotl immediately because it wouldn't cycle fast enough. It would certainly be the easiest option - I just didn't think it was safe.

I suppose I could always just go for a tankless cycle on the 20G.... I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a better way that I was missing.

That was the suggestion - transfer your cycled 10g filter (so the bulk of your beneficial bacteria) to the new tank and run both. That way, you have an instant cycle of sorts with the old filter and the new filter will pick it up with time. You could also transfer over decorations and plants etc which will also contain some bacteria to help things along.

 

I am planning on transferring over nearly all decorations/plants that are in the current tank. I know axolotls are very hardy... if you guys think I can get away with that and not impacting his health that would be the best solution.

 

I am planning on transferring over nearly all decorations/plants that are in the current tank. I know axolotls are very hardy... if you guys think I can get away with that and not impacting his health that would be the best solution.

Others may have a different view but i dont think there would be enough bb on your decorations etc to provide the new tank with an instant cycle. It would help a cycle along of course but you may go through a mini cycle whilst the bb has chance to catch up. The bulk of it resides in the filter media so thats the most important thing to transfer across really.

 

mmaer, I like the suggestion that carsonsgjs gave.

Since the Fluval 107 is a canister, you can insert what media from your Aqueon filter over to it.

The Aqueon filter cartridge has a felt like material wrapped around an inner plastic frame. You can cut the the felt material away from the inner frame and place it into one of the canister's baskets.

Looking at the pic you posted of the sponge, it looks like a pre-filter that slips over the end of an intake tube for a filter. You somehow attached it on the discharge of the Aqueon filter, right?

You can slip this around the strainer of the intake tube on the Fluval canister. If it was in the 10g tank, then to answer your question, yes it has beneficial bacteria colonizing on it.

Foam sponge material is one of the best types of media for both mechanical and biological filtration . It has a ton of inner surface area for the BB to colonize on.

I have a Fluval 307 which is basically a taller version of your 107. They are well made and excellent filters.

Using the cylindrical foam sponge as a pre-filter by slipping it on the Fluval intake tube will not hurt its operation at all. In fact, many people (including myself) use sponge pre-filters on their intakes. It will catch the larger much and uneaten fish food from being sucked up into the filter. This will extend the time between needing to clean the filter. Maybe 2-3 times a month just dunk a ziploc bag into the tank and slip the pre-filter sponge in it, then remove it from the tank so it can be cleaned.

Using the ziploc bag to hold the sponge will help trap any muck that falls off when being removed from the water. I use this method to remove my pre-filters when its time for a cleaning.