How long for new filter media to gain BB

[Hercules99]

Im upgrading from a 10G to a 25G and so have put the ceramic rings from the 25G filter into the 10G filter for them to pick up some beneficial bacteria.

How long will it take for the new rings to adopt the beneficial bacteria?

Or even better would I be able to swap the old rings into the new 25G filter and leave the new rings in the 10G filter. Would the sponge/floss in the 10G filter retain enough beneficial bacteria?

 

[Mr. Overfilter]

Bacterial propagation should take 2-6 weeks. I haven't used filter floss in so long I frankly don't know if filter floss is a good way to propagate or not. Sponge and hard media will work fine in that role as long as you don't rinse it in tap along the way.

Qapla!

 

[fishwonder]

Using ceramic rings will take a good long time. If you have sponges or use plastic pot scrubbies, only a few days since there is like 10 times the surface area. Good info is here.
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-filter-media/

 

[Hercules99]

Using ceramic rings will take a good long time. If you have sponges or use plastic pot scrubbies, only a few days since there is like 10 times the surface area. Good info is here.
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-filter-media/

My filter has ceramic rings, sponge and filter floss so plenty of surface area there

Is the sponge the best one to move to the new filter then? or squeeze into the new filter?

Currently the new filter is in a tank dosed with ammonia and Tetra safe start (I've used it before and had very quick results, I just think even if its cycles, the old media will make the parameters more similar to the current tank)

 

[Mr. Overfilter]

Using ceramic rings will take a good long time. If you have sponges or use plastic pot scrubbies, only a few days since there is like 10 times the surface area. Good info is here.
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-filter-media/

Fun and informative read. For the sake of clarity, am I right to understand that right-minded people must use "foam" for all of their bio-filtration needs?

 

[fishwonder]

Fun and informative read. For the sake of clarity, am I right to understand that right-minded people must use "foam" for all of their bio-filtration needs?

You can use whatever you want. Heck, dirty socks in a filter will 'work'. All depends on how much you have to use to achieve the same results. There is a reason professional fish keepers use foam.

 

[Mr. Overfilter]

You can use whatever you want. Heck, dirty socks in a filter will 'work'. All depends on how much you have to use to achieve the same results. There is a reason professional fish keepers use foam.

Of course I can/do/should use whatever media I think is best. At least that's the way it should work, and why I have ton of foam (different types) in both filters. I also use permeable hard media in my personal search for the Holy Grail of tank care. Remember when eggs were terrible for you, and how the experts changed their minds a couple of years later? Fads come and go, right?

 

[fishwonder]

Of course I can/do/should use whatever media I think is best. At least that's the way it should work, and why I have ton of foam (different types) in both filters. I also use permeable hard media in my personal search for the Holy Grail of tank care. Remember when eggs were terrible for you, and how the experts changed their minds a couple of years later? Fads come and go, right?

Funny. There is no permeable hard media. All of it clogs in weeks.

 

[Mr. Overfilter]

Funny. There is no permeable hard media. All of it clogs in weeks.

No, hilarious. There is indeed permeable hard bio media. Let me know if you want to know the type. Sure, nearly all media clogs. That's why we fist clean it now and then in tank water. Perhaps you're thinking about the plastic bio-block/sphere variety, which works peaches if you have the time (patience) for propagation.

Short story: I saw a marine drip filter years ago that had perhaps 1/16 inch of bio material all over every block. It was wonderous and something I've tried to emulate every since.

BTW, I'm using a filter that has an isolated pre-filter (carbon infused foam) that pre-cleans my water before it hits the hard bio-media and more foam before it's returned to the tank. I'm hoping (and I'm told) that this will protect the bulk of the filter from detritus for a good while.

If I'm long on my replies, forgive me. I found out today that I'm no longer diabetic and I'm celebrating with popcorn, a bit of dark chocolate and some Doom Eternal.

 

[fishwonder]

No, hilarious. There is indeed permeable hard bio media. Let me know if you want to know the type. Sure, nearly all media clogs. That's why we fist clean it now and then in tank water.

But you can't clean the internal area that clogs. Your so called media has only 5 micron space available for water flow. Knowing that one bacterium cell is about 2 microns and can double in size about every 20 hours, that's how it clogs, and since water always takes the path of least resistance... well. Physics. That's why only the exterior has any useful surface are for oxidation. I'm sure you read the article and how inefficient that type of media is.
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-2-12-matrix/
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-2-11-ceramics/

 

[Mr. Overfilter]

But you can't clean the internal area that clogs. Your so called media has only 5 micron space available for water flow. Knowing that one bacterium cell is about 2 microns and can double in size about every 20 hours, that's how it clogs, and since water always takes the path of least resistance... well. Physics. That's why only the exterior has any useful surface are for oxidation. I'm sure you read the article and how inefficient that type of media is.
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-2-12-matrix/
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-2-11-ceramics/

I'm aware of the types of media available. I'm just as aware of the type of growth I'm shooting for, which I thought I mentioned. Listen, thanks for your comity, acceptance of what others have posted and your dogged approach to filtration theory and contemporary technology. You managed to teach me a needed lesson this evening.

 

[Autumnsky]

There are many ways to use all sorts of filter media.

Your question Squeeze out the gunky-ness into the new filter to help seed it and you can grab some ceramic ring media which somehow runs just fine in my tanks and has BB functioning well enough not to kill my fish and shrimp, and a chopped off hunk of sponge works a charm as well. Just replace a hunk from the other sponge.

Options. Options, options!

OP, are you planning a BB fish-in cycle or a fishless cycle? To grow a good colony of BB can take 6-8 weeks for a tank of fish like a fishless cycle using ammonia. Where it is measured and more able to calculate what is happening.

Mostly I do a slow go adding groups of fish to a tank with a filter pad which is already able to handle a small group of fish. Basically an assisted fish in cycle.

You will need to feed the BB if it is a fishless cycle, or not over feed or over stock if it is a fish-in cycle.

fishless

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/tips-and-tricks-for-your-fastest-fishless-cycle/


Fish-in
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/i-just-learned-about-cycling-but-i-already-have-fish-what-now/
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/fishin-cycling-step-dark-side/


**Some HOB filters have enough room to slide in a second filter cartridge. I would always use 2 when I had those types of HOB filters. Then when you need a new tank you are well on your way. Idea for the future.

 

[Hercules99]

There are many ways to use all sorts of filter media.

Your question Squeeze out the gunky-ness into the new filter to help seed it and you can grab some ceramic ring media which somehow runs just fine in my tanks and has BB functioning well enough not to kill my fish and shrimp, and a chopped off hunk of sponge works a charm as well. Just replace a hunk from the other sponge.

Options. Options, options!

OP, are you planning a BB fish-in cycle or a fishless cycle? To grow a good colony of BB can take 6-8 weeks for a tank of fish like a fishless cycle using ammonia. Where it is measured and more able to calculate what is happening.

Mostly I do a slow go adding groups of fish to a tank with a filter pad which is already able to handle a small group of fish. Basically an assisted fish in cycle.

You will need to feed the BB if it is a fishless cycle, or not over feed or over stock if it is a fish-in cycle.

fishless

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/tips-and-tricks-for-your-fastest-fishless-cycle/


Fish-in
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/i-just-learned-about-cycling-but-i-already-have-fish-what-now/
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/fishin-cycling-step-dark-side/


**Some HOB filters have enough room to slide in a second filter cartridge. I would always use 2 when I had those types of HOB filters. Then when you need a new tank you are well on your way. Idea for the future.

Im trying to do a fishes cycle in my 20G tank and currently am using my 10G tank as quarantine for a new gourami.

I have a cycled filter in the 10G and have put the ceramic tubes from the 20G filter in the 10G tank to try and seed bacteria, thats been there for a week. I've never had issues with these getting clogged and the ones in my 10G filter have been there for over a year.

The 20G has been dosed with ammonia, the levels started dropping today, I'm just hoping to speed things up with media from the 10G as its not really enough space or heavily planted enough for my gourami to be 100% happy in there. I've had good experiences in the past with Tetra safe start so dosed the 20G with that but I also want to move filter media over as that'll be the bacteria the tank is used to and the TSS will just provide a boost.

So given your advice, my plan is to squeeze the sponge into the 20G filter, move the ceramic rings back to the 20G filter, dose with TSS and then monitor the ammonia.
When it drops I'll redose, if that falls over night I'll do a 50% water change, replacing half with water from the 10G and the other half new fresh water (to keep nitrates down but also to not shock my fish).
What do you think? Is there any way I can improve this?

 

[Autumnsky]

This seems fine. Are you planning to keep the 10G a QT or it is just temporarily a QT?

You can use the 10G filter and the 20G filter together on the new 20G and it would be all ready to go, if I understand you saying the 10G filter was cycled?????

Then add some additional media in the 2 filters so after a little while a month or so, you will have that seeded and can add back the 10G filter to the 10G tank for a tank you can use for more fish.

What other fish are in the 10G if the 20 is fishless cycling?

 

[Hercules99]

This seems fine. Are you planning to keep the 10G a QT or it is just temporarily a QT?

You can use the 10G filter and the 20G filter together on the new 20G and it would be all ready to go, if I understand you saying the 10G filter was cycled?????

Then add some additional media in the 2 filters so after a little while a month or so, you will have that seeded and can add back the 10G filter to the 10G tank for a tank you can use for more fish.

What other fish are in the 10G if the 20 is fishless cycling?

The 10G is just a temporary quarantine, but each time I get new fish over the next few weeks I will have it in use for them so moving the filter over won't be an option, the filter media however I will be moving. I'll be moving the heater and all the plants over as well.

In the 10G is only a gourami at the moment, she'll grow too big for it soon though so I'm hoping to have the bigger tank up and running soon.