Mature Filter?

[rosebud280282]

I have a couple of pregnant platties and I would like to try and raise at least one batch of fry. I have a small sponge filter to put in a small tank for the fry to grow so for now I have put the sponge filter in my main tank.
How long will it be before the filter is mature enough for a 5 gallon tank?
And when it is ready can I just syphon of water from my main tank to put in the fry tank?

On another subject:
I have two female guppies but my male guppy is more interested in my female platties.
Will they be able to mate and will I end up with weird looking fry?

 

[onemisterchristian]

Syphoning water form the mature tank really won't do much. The ben. bacteria is mainly on the filter media, then substrate and ornaments. You could always take some of the mature filter media and transfer it directly into the new tank. Find some way to attach it to the sponge filter and it should spread. However, make sure you have an available source of waste for the bacteria to feed on, otherwise it will just die.

 

[rosebud280282]

I have the filter in my tank, the tank is already cycled, how long before the filter is full of bacteria?

 

[onemisterchristian]

It's really hard to say, visibly it should look different. The media should have a nice tainted look. Put it near somewhere near existing bacteria, It seems like it should spread more quickly that way.