Beneficial bacteria for quarantine tank

[WiccaFish]

Question...
I just found out I'm getting some new fish tomorrow (surprise from the hubby) and I'm setting up my quarantine tank now. My question is what do you guys use for beneficial bacteria? I didn't have time to prepare anything so other then just using water from my display tank I'm not sure what to do. Can I soak the sponge that comes with my quarantine tank filter in my display tank water until tomorrow? Will that be enough? I think there is some floss in my canister filter I might be able to put in too. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[Slaphppy7]

Any media you can spare from an established filter. Just be sure to replace with new media.
In an older, well established tank, even deco and/or plants can be used.

 

[Byron]

Question...
I just found out I'm getting some new fish tomorrow (surprise from the hubby) and I'm setting up my quarantine tank now. My question is what do you guys use for beneficial bacteria? I didn't have time to prepare anything so other then just using water from my display tank I'm not sure what to do. Can I soak the sponge that comes with my quarantine tank filter in my display tank water until tomorrow? Will that be enough? I think there is some floss in my canister filter I might be able to put in too. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

I doubt a day will be sufficient to establish a decent bacteria colony, but if others say it will, no argument from me. However, I would do one (or both) of two other things that have more certainty.

You can use a bacterial supplement, available from fish stores. Tetra's SafeStart is the best in your circumstance, as it is immediate and intended for use with fish.

Another option is to add some live floating plants, if you have any in another tank. Floating plants take up an incredible amount of ammonia/ammonium depending upon the size and number, and they are faster at this than the nitrifying bacteria.

By the way, do not use "old" tank water, there is no benefit in that, as bacteria colonize surfaces. A filter from an operating tank transferred over would contain bacteria, but not water.

 

[WiccaFish]

Ok, sounds good. I'm going to take a handful of filter floss from the canister and put it in the quarantine filter. I'm hoping that'll be good enough. Getting new fish was a nice surprise but I didn't have the heart to tell my husband that I really needed a couple of weeks notice ?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Ok, sounds good. I'm going to take a handful of filter floss from the canister and put it in the quarantine filter. I'm hoping that'll be good enough. Getting new fish was a nice surprise but I didn't have the heart to tell my husband that I really needed a couple of weeks notice ?

Should be fine, just monitor params daily, WC's when/if necessary, etc etc etc

 

[WiccaFish]

I doubt a day will be sufficient to establish a decent bacteria colony, but if others say it will, no argument from me. However, I would do one (or both) of two other things that have more certainty.

You can use a bacterial supplement, available from fish stores. Tetra's SafeStart is the best in your circumstance, as it is immediate and intended for use with fish.

Another option is to add some live floating plants, if you have any in another tank. Floating plants take up an incredible amount of ammonia/ammonium depending upon the size and number, and they are faster at this than the nitrifying bacteria.

By the way, do not use "old" tank water, there is no benefit in that, as bacteria colonize surfaces. A filter from an operating tank transferred over would contain bacteria, but not water.

I had no idea not to use water from existing tank, thanks for the heads up. I do have a plant that my pleco just uprooted. It's just floating around begging to be put in the quarantine tank ?
I'll do that and add the floss from my canister. Do you think that's enough?

 

[Slaphppy7]

I had no idea not to use water from existing tank, thanks for the heads up. I do have a plant that my pleco just uprooted. It's just floating around begging to be put in the quarantine tank ?
I'll do that and add the floss from my canister. Do you think that's enough?

Yep, just monitor params closely for the first several days, as explained above

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Ok, sounds good. I'm going to take a handful of filter floss from the canister and put it in the quarantine filter. I'm hoping that'll be good enough. Getting new fish was a nice surprise but I didn't have the heart to tell my husband that I really needed a couple of weeks notice ?

That should get close to an instant cycle. Possibly add more media if you can.

I have heard good things about Tetras SafeStart, but I have never personally used it.

 

[WiccaFish]

Guys! I'm so upset!!!
I ordered 6 Roseline Sharks that came yesterday. They were alive but very pale.
All 6 fish have died ??
I did everything right and the only thing I was worried about was that the water in the bag the fish came in was only 60 degrees. I put them in a bucket and did the drip method until the temp came to as close to the quarantine tank temp as possible (off by maybe 2 degrees). The water parameters were good, a heater, a filter, an airstone.
Someone told me not to do the drip method with fish that have been mailed. That the "drop & plop" method is the way to go. Has anyone else heard of that?
Not only did I spend a lot of $$$ on these guys but the fact that they suffered is killing me. I have no idea what went wrong and I honestly don't think the company is going to work with me ?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Sorry for the bad experience...where did you order the fish from? There was no heat pack in the box?
How long were they in the mail?

 

[AbbeysDad]

I support Byron's advice and have one other suggestion. I tend to 'clean' a filter sponge from a healthy, established aquarium in the new QT tank water. I have had great success doing this. (See Cycling a New Aquarium)

 

[Slaphppy7]

I support Byron's advice and have one other suggestion. I tend to 'clean' a filter sponge from a healthy, established aquarium in the new QT tank water. I have had great success doing this. (See Cycling a New Aquarium)

From a sponge filter itself, or an HOB or canister?

 

[AbbeysDad]

From a sponge filter itself, or an HOB or canister?

Either since both will have ample beneficial biology.... All my Aquaclear HOB's (4) are completely filled with bio-sponge material and some grow out tanks have large sponge filters.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Either since both will have ample beneficial biology.... All my Aquaclear HOB's (4) are completely filled with bio-sponge material and some grow out tanks have large sponge filters.

But from some earlier posts of yours, I gathered that media in filters that are on/in "healthy, established aquariums" don't contain much nitrifying bacteria, if any at all?

And that most of the nitrifying bacteria would be in the substrate, or on plants and deco?

 

[AbbeysDad]

But from some earlier posts of yours, I gathered that media in filters that are on/in "healthy, established aquariums" don't contain much nitrifying bacteria, if any at all?

And that most of the nitrifying bacteria would be in the substrate, or on plants and deco?

Ah, but then I have several bare bottom grow out tanks where all BB lives in the filter bio-sponges.
But yes, in a typical established aquarium (6 months or longer) there typically is far more beneficial bacteria in the substrate than in any filter...however, that doesn't mean that there is none in the filter, just that it's significance is reduced (which counters the hobby lore that all BB lives in the bio-media in the filter).