Use Filter To Cycle?

I'm new to all this & recently made the mistake of fully cleaning tank,substrate,& filter inside & out. In doing so I messed up the cycle. I already have fish in tank & was looking for way to cycle safely with fish in tank. I was going to try tetra safe start but when I checked with little fish shop I know the guy said he didn't hav any but could give me a filter out of his tanks that has bacteria. Would this be safe or recommended?

 

Did you replace all of the filter material? Hopefully, you didn't...

 

if necessary; hopefully his tanks aren't diseased; yes speeding cycle can be done with used filter medium

 

Depends on if he has healthy fish, there's always a risk of getting disease.

I cycle all my new tanks instantly by using filter media from my established tanks. Which is a suggestion for this time, add extra media for future use.

 

I would not take any filter material from the fish shop. They have way too many fish passing through their from different origins. Way too many possibilities for cross contamination and not worth it

 

I agree with endlercollector, because it is a local fishstore, there are tons of fish that go in there. A lot of fish also die so you can get some serious diseases in your tank. However, you can if you trust this fish store and if you think the pros (chance of saving your fish) outweight the cons (risk of contaimination). Its really up to you.
Good Luck ~

 

I agree with endlercollector, because it is a local fishstore, there are tons of fish that go in there. A lot of fish also die so you can get some serious diseases in your tank. However, you can if you trust this fish store and if you think the pros (chance of saving your fish) outweight the cons (risk of contaimination). Its really up to you.
Good Luck ~

Yes at the time I replaced the filter. It's a tetra whisper so it's a carbon filter that I replaced. This was almost 3 wks ago now & rest of fish seem fine but not certain of theyre diseased as u said. One fish died like 2 days after. That's when I found forum & found out about nitrogen cycle. The guy who owns shop seems quite knowledgeable. It's a small shop ran right behind his house. Reviews online say from other ppl. say it seems he loves all his fish & is good shop. The guy he'd just giv me filter for free out of one of his tanks.

Yes at the time I replaced the filter. It's a tetra whisper so it's a carbon filter that I replaced. This was almost 3 wks ago now & rest of fish seem fine but not certain of theyre diseased as u said. One fish died like 2 days after. That's when I found forum & found out about nitrogen cycle. The guy who owns shop seems quite knowledgeable. It's a small shop ran right behind his house. Reviews online say from other ppl. say it seems he loves all his fish & is good shop. The guy he'd just giv me filter for free out of one of his tanks.

He also told me its safer to buy from small shops because chains run centralized filter systems so if one fish is sick its likely they all are. He's given me quite a bit of info since I bought aquarium & hasnt pressed me to buy from him so doesn't seem like his in it for the money but I was just concerned if this was safe for my fish. Using filter for cycling that is.

 

Nice, he seems like a cool guy xD

 

Definitely,he also offered to test my water for me being that I don't hav kit yet. And he takes in rescue fish if fish are bullied,too big,or can't be kept for some reason. But if u guys think its too risky ill just order nitrified bacteria online. They didn't hav at Wal-Mart & he didnt hav either but offered his filter as alternative.

 

So most fish stores and box stores run sumps for all the tanks so all the tanks have the same water. If he has media for you give it a shot and then give him some back when you're cycled. A word of advice, ditch the carbon insert. Ill publish my article on filtration and the chemistry behind different media. Suffice it to say carbon is pretty close to useless and you are just blowing money.

 

So most fish stores and box stores run sumps for all the tanks so all the tanks have the same water. If he has media for you give it a shot and then give him some back when you're cycled. A word of advice, ditch the carbon insert. Ill publish my article on filtration and the chemistry behind different media. Suffice it to say carbon is pretty close to useless and you are just blowing money.

If be interested in reading that. Since u mentioned ditching carbon filter,do I have to run carbon filter in that whisper or can I use different media? If not,I'll have to buy new filter system then?

 

If be interested in reading that. Since u mentioned ditching carbon filter,do I have to run carbon filter in that whisper or can I use different media? If not,I'll have to buy new filter system then?

That's one of those in tank jobs right? Or is it a HOB? If its a hob, go buy some lava rock at lowes and pop that in the tub of the filter. Much increased surface area for a much higher capability of your filter. Plus you never have to buy the cartridges again.

 

That's one of those in tank jobs right? Or is it a HOB? If its a hob, go buy some lava rock at lowes and pop that in the tub of the filter. Much increased surface area for a much higher capability of your filter. Plus you never have to buy the cartridges again.

It's an HOB.

As it is now,it doesn't seem to agitate surface that much.

 

That's one of those in tank jobs right? Or is it a HOB? If its a hob, go buy some lava rock at lowes and pop that in the tub of the filter. Much increased surface area for a much higher capability of your filter. Plus you never have to buy the cartridges again.

Wouldn't you still need some sort of filter pad in addition to the lava rock? To filter out the particulates in the water? Curious as I've not heard of running a HOB with just bio media and no filter pads. I'm always looking for better ways of doing things.

 

Would be nice. I'm all for improving performance of my filter plus that would save money not buying carbon filters.

 

Wouldn't you still need some sort of filter pad in addition to the lava rock? To filter out the particulates in the water? Curious as I've not heard of running a HOB with just bio media and no filter pads. I'm always looking for better ways of doing things.

Not necessaryly. The lava rock will act as mechanical filtration itself. However, a pad is always nice to have. To make it last longer, cut it open, take the carbon out, and put ur pad back in. Now it can last much longer.

For my aquaclear 70 filter, I have a filtration sponge, then bio media bag, then another bio media bag. I am a true believer in bio media. It came with carbon, but I did not put it in due to the controversy surrounding it.
I also have pothos plants to reduce nitrates. Unfortunately, they are rotting and dying. I still don't understand why

 

Not necessaryly. The lava rock will act as mechanical filtration itself. However, a pad is always nice to have. To make it last longer, cut it open, take the carbon out, and put ur pad back in. Now it can last much longer.

For my aquaclear 70 filter, I have a filtration sponge, then bio media bag, then another bio media bag. I am a true believer in bio media. It came with carbon, but I did not put it in due to the controversy surrounding it.
I also have pothos plants to reduce nitrates. Unfortunately, they are rotting and dying. I still don't understand why

K,thnx for the info

 

No Problem, always happy to help people out

 

So you can do a filter pad which will be a nice water polisher. Go to walmart or joanns fabrics and get polyfill batting. (Yes I had to ask my mermaid what the name is). Cut or tear a little bit and place it on top of the media and that will take care of particulate. Additionally you can go to home depot or true value and get pond filter sponge. Its really coarse and you can fit that over your hob intake. That will prefilter and provide additional surface area for BB. The end goal here is to have chemistry stable and cut the cord from the aquarium industry. There is no rhyme or reason to be throwing mobey at them for carbon filter inserts. Carbon performs only a few functions and if your water is balanced with a good colony of bb then you don't need those functions.

 

I also happen to be working on a paper which is so far testing that carbon has billions of times more surface area for bacteria growth than any of the store sold bio medias or substrates. One look at activated carbon under a microscope shows the details of the microscopic caves. One gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 3,000 square meters. It is the only thing I use carbon for.

 

I also happen to be working on a paper which is so far testing that carbon has billions of times more surface area for bacteria growth than any of the store sold bio medias or substrates. One look at activated carbon under a microscope shows the details of the microscopic caves. One gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 3,000 square meters. It is the only thing I use carbon for.

K,thnx for the suggestions. Not sure yet if ill go with the lava rock or filter bag & polyfill batting.