New Filter

[heartworm]

This is probably a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway. I just bought a new filter, for a tank that's currently under construction. Can I put this filter into my current tank to kick start the cycle when the tanks finished. Will it do any harm to my current tank, and will it help with the cycle when i put this filter into my new tank? I would of course be keeping the current filter running at the same time.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes, you can do that for sure!

With this filter running in an established tank, you are going to do what is called "seeding" a filter, where you put a filter into an established tank with another filer, than beneficial bacteria will start to colonize on your new filter.

Than when you get your other tank up and running, just put that filter in your new tank.

It will not harm your current tank.

Yes, it will speed up the cycling process, depending on how long the filter is in your established tank will determine how much bacteria colonize in it.

-FHM

 

[heartworm]

Yes, you can do that for sure!

With this filter running in an established tank, you are going to do what is called "seeding" a filter, where you put a filter into an established tank with another filer, than beneficial bacteria will start to colonize on your new filter.

Than when you get your other tank up and running, just put that filter in your new tank.

It will not harm your current tank.

Yes, it will speed up the cycling process, depending on how long the filter is in your established tank will determine how much bacteria colonize in it.

-FHM

Thanks FHM, your always around for a quick response. If I'm honest its likely to be in for a while, It's finals time at the moment at university so the tank construction has come to stop pretty much, but whatever I can do to help when I do get it up and running is worthwhile. Planning on making this a shrimp tank.

 

[Colin_T]

You can run the new filter on your old tank and it will develop some beneficial filter bacteria over a month or so. Then you can move the filter onto the new tank and add some fish at the same time.
The old filter and tank will lose a bit of the filter bacteria when you move the new filter out, but the bacteria grows rapidly and will quickly repopulate to its previous level.

 

[fatheadminnow]

If it stays in for about a months or so, you might not need toe even cycle the new tank, also, when the time comes to putting the new filter in your tank, you can just grab some mature filter media form your current filter and put it into your new filter.

I am at the University right now too, I am actually in psychology class right now typing this...lol.

-FHM

 

[jynxed]

im just doing the same.my filter will only be in the old tank for a day though so if i was to take the water from the old tank in to the new (new tank is alot smaller then the old one) then i guess i wouldnt need to cycle the new tank, would this sound about right or would i still need to leave it maybe a week for the filter to build up the bacteria?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jynxed

Transferring water from one tank to another won't help much. The beneficial bacteria you need are clinging to the surfaces of the filter media, etc., and not free floating in the water. If you cut off a piece of your old filter and put it into the new filter, it will immediately support a number of fish in proportion to the amount of media you moved. The bacteria in the first tank will quickly regenerate to the number needed to support the fish in it. The bacteria in the new filter will only support a few at first, but as you gradually add more fish, they to will increase as needed.

This is called "cloning" a tank.

 

[jynxed]

lol well thats a shame. i really hate opening my fluval 103 canister filter so i think ill give that a miss.how long do you recon i should leave the new filter in the established tank before moving it to the new tank?
i was hoping i could get it up and running tommorrow but i guess it will be atleast a week