a new tank. 1 week old

[Tednol]

i have a new tank with a week old water. ive got the plants in and all i need is to get the bacteria levels up so i can add 4 dwarf gouramis from my 4 year old tank (same size)

can i wash the sponge of the filter of my old tank in a bucket with the sponge of the new filter's (new tank) sponge so that the bacteria tranfers to one sponge to another, and then leave it for a week and do the same again then leave it for another week then add the fish?

 

[cometcattle]

Are they from the same filter?

If so, just put the new one in the established filter, and the old sponge in the new filter. You will have plenty of bacteria in the old filter already.

 

[Tednol]

well i have two filters that are exactly the same apart from the new one pumps more water.
arent u not suppose to replace a new sponge like that?

 

[Tednol]

or becasue i have a spare sponge, why dont i put a new sponge (spare) and tie it to a rock in the established tank, and leave it there so the bacteria build up and then put it in the new tank and chuck away the one ive got in the new filter away (or keep it)

 

[tstenback]

Put the new sponge in with the old sponge in the old filter for a week and then move it to the new filter. That should give you enough bacteria to move the fish over. If that cant work let us know what type of filter you are running and perhaps someone will come up with a solution for you. HTH

 

[cometcattle]

If you have the bacteria source inside the filter, it will colinize MUCH faster than if you have it just sitting in the tank.

With it in the filter, you will see a bacteria bloom VERY soon.