Kickstarting Filter Media

[zesty]

Hi, first post from a newbie.

I have got just got myself a fluval 125l tank and fluval u3 filter, I havent set the tank up yet as I am decorating the room its going in.

To speed up the process can I put my new filter into my boys goldfish tank to get the media started while I decorate? He has a 90l tank with 2 goldfish in it.

If it can,then how long would it need to be left in his tank for to become established?

When the filter is ready to go back in my tank what would I then need to do?

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Zesty.
If you can install the filter on the goldfish tank for a couple of weeks and just let it run on that tank, it will become rich in the right bacteria. You won't know exactly how well developed the bacterial colony is until you try it out either with fish or ammonia so I would stock lightly at first.

 

[greenscooby]

I'm not gonna argue with oldman47, spot on advice as normal.

 

[zesty]

Thanks.

After my filter has been in his tank for a couple of weeks what would my next step be?
Would I get my tank filled with water and up to temperature for a couple of days and then add my filter to it?
After adding the filter, would I need to test the water?
Or would I just add the filter and put a few fish straight in?

Sorry for all the questions

 

[OldMan47]

The best bet for the filter test would be to tr adding some ammonia to your new tank with your new filter and see how well it handles the ammonia. If it can remove 2 ppm but has trouble with 4 or 5 ppm, you will know that you don't have enough bacteria to deal with a large stocking level yet. If it knocks down 4 or 5 ppm of ammonia, it is ready to go with a near full fish stocking. If you can't get your hands on any ammonia, assume that it is a small bacteria population and move slowly with stocking the new tank. The only benefit that I am aware of for running an empty tank that is not actively being cycled, is to get the temperature of the water stable at the desired value and to let the dust settle that you never do manage to completely remove when washing new substrate.

 

[zesty]

ok I shall go with your suggestions. Thanks.

 

[stranger69]

You could also wait and set up the new tank, add your new filter and then take the sponge out of the 90l tank when you are doing a cleaning and squeeze it into the new set up once the water has been dechlorinated. This worked VERY well for me when setting up my second tank.

 

[OldMan47]

I do something similar Stranger but with weeks to let the new filter get established on an existing tank while painting and decorating, the side by side run on an existing tank is also a proven approach that the OP has time to use. It can be a bit chancy using filter squeezings to get filters going although I recently did that on 4 of my new tanks.