-
Forum
-
General
-
Introduce yourself
-
How to use filter media to speed up cycle of tank
×
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
How to use filter media to speed up cycle of tank
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 13:46 #1
by alkiely (alan kiely)
I came across some posts about using filter media to speed up the cycle of a new tank. Im abit unsure of how to do this and havnt done anything yet because i dont wanna do anything that will cause problems for my other tank.
Do i take out the media from my other filter and clean it in the cycling tank or just squeeze the media into the cycling tank and keep it out of the cycling tank completely.
Thanks for the help so far from everyone here,
Alan.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 221
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
05 Mar 2009 13:50 #2
by nonie (leonie troy)
Best thing to do is get your hands on some old filter media that was running in a tank for some time and put it into your filter. You can squeeze it into the tank but the water will get cloudy from the gunge in the media. Hope this helps.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 14:03 #3
by alkiely (alan kiely)
See thats were im stuck, i have my other tank running for 4months and dont have any used filter media yet. I was gonna buy new media to put in my old tank and then put the used media into my cycling tank but im unsure and was wondering with new media will that cause problems for my old tank and were do i put the used media in the cycling tank. Im new to tropical fish and i dont wanna start messin round with stuff im not too sure of.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
Less
More
-
Posts: 696
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:02 #5
by LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
alkiely wrote:
can anyone give me so advice on what to do here
Tank sizes again please?
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 480
-
Thank you received: 4
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:09 #6
by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
Alright Alkiely
What type of filtration do you use on the tanks, internal, external, are they juwel tanks??
GB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:23 #7
by alkiely (alan kiely)
both internal the 180 is juwel the 54l via tech filter with just 1 square filter media in the 54l
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 480
-
Thank you received: 4
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:35 #8
by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
The juwel internal on the 180 which i take is your older tank, will have several sponges inside. If you take out one of the sponges and replace with new sponge there should be no big problems with your 180. There should be sufficient good bateria in the tank to keep things ticking over nicely but do not add any new fish for a week or two and if you are overly cautious you could reduce the feeding for a couple of days.
The documentation with the juwel gives you a rough guide as to when to change each filter but be sensible and only ever change 1 at a time to keep a bateria balance in your tank.
With the sponge you removed simply place this into your other filter on the 54litre,if it doesn,t fit cut it up into small pieces. i recently had to do the same when i was setting up my external filter, i was kindly give a used filter by forum member and it cycled my tank in no time, was able to stock fish in a couple of days but i will be cautious and slowly add my fish stock.
Hope it helps and maybe other will be able to give advice, other methods etc.
best of luck
GB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:45 #9
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Its the other way round GB the 54l is my old one and the juwel rio 180 which my cycling at the moment, is my new one sorry didnt make it clear.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 480
-
Thank you received: 4
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:51 #10
by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
Sorry alkiely but no harm just do the opposite, the only think that jumps out at me is that the filter from the 54 will be much smalller that the 180 so you would want to stock the 180 very slowly to let the good baterica take a hold. You could also see if someone has a bigger piece of used filter sponge for you to get your hand on and speed up the whole process for you. Costs nothing to ask:)
.
GB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 480
-
Thank you received: 4
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:54 #11
by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
Just thinking bud if you are in a rush to setup or want to fully stock straight away you could use Organic Aqua. Used it on my first tank setup and have to say it worked fine.
GB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 696
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
05 Mar 2009 21:56 #12
by LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
With that, when you do a water change on the 54L put the old water into the new tank, its mature water.
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 22:03 #13
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Just on the organic aqua dont no alot about the stuff have read about and ill do it the old way think it just suits me better but thanks GB was looking into use it on the 54l when i have my fish in the 180l.
LB never thought of doin that at all its a great idea will do tomorrow ill do a 30% change and then another 30% a week later test it and i should be good to go then i guess.
Cheers lads thanks again
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 2030
-
Thank you received: 102
-
-
05 Mar 2009 22:42 - 05 Mar 2009 22:49 #14
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Give the sponge a squeeze also from the 54litre into the larger tank,dont let the sponge actually go into the new tank water, but give it a squeeze into a bowl of water taken from the 54litre and then dump the water in the bowl into your new tank or alternatively all over the larger tanks filter sponge.
Having said that I think Gerrys suggestion of putting some of the sponges into the other filter is perfect and also when changing the water place some of it into the new tank. That way the beneficial bacteria will be present. Also as a tip, for anyone out there, in my external filter, I have several pieces of sponge cut up in different sizes,this is to ensure that should I need to set up a quarantine tank quickly that I would be able to do so at the drop of a hat. Its important to be ready as they say.
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
05 Mar 2009 23:02 #15
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Thats a good idea about the sponges..... Im gonna take out the sponge from my 54l and do that now cant wait till 2moro...... its killin me just sitting waiting for the tank to cycle but its worth the wait so many ideas for fish, plants it does keep me awake at night thinking the misses is starting to get a little angry:angry: she just doesnt understand what it takes to cycle a tank
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 436
-
Thank you received: 1
-
-
06 Mar 2009 11:31 #16
by fourmations (NIall SMyth)
why dont you just cut the sponge in your 54 in half
and top up with other sponge or filter floss
and pop the other half in your new tank filter?
dont worry about size or anything
as long as its there, when i changed the filter
on my 54 i just put the media in my tetratec trays
it wasnt the right size but it didnt matter,
instant cycle!
you could also scoop out some of your substrate
from your 54, but it in a sock or tights
and sit it in the new tank for a while
your substrate is a bacteria source too
i haven't time to read the whole thread at the mo
but just to mention that water does not
hold the beneficial bacteria
regards
4
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
06 Mar 2009 11:51 #17
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Last night i cleaned the sponge from 54l in a bowl of water from the tank and put in into the cycling tank, then also squeezed the sponge directly into the cycling tank got abit cloudy but this morning its was clear.
Gonna try cutting the sponge out of the 54l an putting it into my cycling tank and then cut the sponge i take out of my cycling tank and put it into my 54l filter. So hopefully when i do a test next week i should be ready to add some of my platys i got when set up the 54l they will be use to it and lived.
Thanks again to all how helped out;)
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 696
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
06 Mar 2009 12:28 #19
by alkiely (alan kiely)
i cut the 54l sponge in half and put it into my juwel filter and i cut the black sponge of the juwel filter which was aruond the same as the sponge which was in the filter of the 54l
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 2030
-
Thank you received: 102
-
-
06 Mar 2009 12:37 #20
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Half is plenty, you dont want the existing tank having too little beneficial bacteria either as it will recycle itself then. Keep an eye on the water readings in both tanks. I think it should be fine however as there will be alot of existing beneficial bacteria constantly in the substrate etc.. However the filter is the key as it is provided with constant water and air to keep the beneficial bacteria at its best.
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
06 Mar 2009 13:02 #21
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Cut both sponges in half and swapped them round, also put some of the substrate from the 54 in a stock belongin to the GF hope she doesnt get angry ha ha ha.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 125
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
06 Mar 2009 17:47 #22
by tm2204 (Thomas Maguire)
gerryberry wrote:
The juwel internal on the 180 which i take is your older tank, will have several sponges inside. If you take out one of the sponges and replace with new sponge there should be no big problems with your 180. There should be sufficient good bateria in the tank to keep things ticking over nicely but do not add any new fish for a week or two and if you are overly cautious you could reduce the feeding for a couple of days.
The documentation with the juwel gives you a rough guide as to when to change each filter but be sensible and only ever change 1 at a time to keep a bateria balance in your tank.
With the sponge you removed simply place this into your other filter on the 54litre,if it doesn,t fit cut it up into small pieces. i recently had to do the same when i was setting up my external filter, i was kindly give a used filter by forum member and it cycled my tank in no time, was able to stock fish in a couple of days but i will be cautious and slowly add my fish stock.
Hope it helps and maybe other will be able to give advice, other methods etc.
best of luck
GB
+1
Excellent advice and exactly what I did setting up my Lido 120. Took sponge from already established filter in my other tank and added it to the bottom of the new Lido 120 internal Juwel filter. I also added about 80 liters of the water from my established tank. The Lido 120 was cycled in less than a week and the ammonia & nitrite levels never went above 0.0 ppm.
Good luck.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
08 Mar 2009 22:31 #23
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Just an updated after 9 days cyling, with filter media and some substrate from my other tank in the last two days did a 50% water change added more stress coat and stress zyme the readings last time and now
ph: 7.6 now is 7.5
KH: 240 now 240
GH: 180 now 240
Nitrate: 0 ppm now 0 ppm
Nitrite:0 ppm now 0ppm
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 530
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
08 Mar 2009 23:08 #25
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Thats the problem when i got the tank i was told in my local shop that the api 5 in 1 test strips are the ones i should use along api stress coat api stress ztme api fu*king everything it doesnt test ammonia levels
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 530
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
08 Mar 2009 23:15 #26
by cardinal (Lar Savage)
Alan
The liquid test kits are better than the test strips....Get an API master test kit....Liquids one around €30 but worth it....Try any sponsor shop...They should have them in stock......I'd imagine that Ammonia Is one of the most important parameters...a fish killer....
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
08 Mar 2009 23:24 #27
by alkiely (alan kiely)
Yeah was looking at them gonna get one during the week gonna go over to AV ...... BUT AGAIN my local pet shop giving me the wrong info was told that the test strips are fine that the master kit was over kill
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 125
-
Thank you received: 0
-
-
10 Mar 2009 11:16 #28
by tm2204 (Thomas Maguire)
alkiely wrote:
Yeah was looking at them gonna get one during the week gonna go over to AV ...... BUT AGAIN my local pet shop giving me the wrong info was told that the test strips are fine that the master kit was over kill
This is such BS.
The liquid test kits are far far superior to the strips. Go back to your LFS and complain then insist on a refund and buy the API liquid test(s). They last for ages and have always given me 100% accurate readings.
Good luck.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Less
More
-
Posts: 830
-
Thank you received: 7
-
-
10 Mar 2009 16:03 #29
by alkiely (alan kiely)
I know,
Used the shop when i was starting up and i wont be again the amount of wrong info i got which caused needless deaths really pissed me off never going near the shop again.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
-
Forum
-
General
-
Introduce yourself
-
How to use filter media to speed up cycle of tank
Time to create page: 0.083 seconds
