Thinking ahead for a QT filter

[Chris1212]

Hopefully getting close to my tank being cycled so I'm looking ahead for what I need for a QT for any new fish to add. I want to go the relatively cheap route with a sterilite clear box. Trying to think through filters. Right now on my main tank I have a penguin 150 which I have modified with a bag of seachem matrix and two aquaclear 20 sponges/foam inserts (see pic). I'm hoping t use one of the sponges and/or some of the seachem matrix for an instant (or close to instant) cycle in my QT.

What type of cheap filter set up could I purchase to use the sponger and the matrix?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Why not just get a sponge filter? It’s easy to setup/use, it‘s cheap, and it‘s safe for all fish/shrimps.

 

[Ch4rlie]

You can use just about any type of filter that you wish.

Some folks have spare filters be it HoB, small internal or a simple sponge filter.

You can tie spare cycled sponge media onto a simple sponge filter with elastic band or fishing line, its only temprorary, and that would work, not pretty but it works.

 

[Chris1212]

Agreed it's cheap and easy, but I won't be able to use the seeded media from my normal tank. I don't have room to put a sponge filter in my normal tank.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Agreed it's cheap and easy, but I won't be able to use the seeded media from my normal tank. I don't have room to put a sponge filter in my normal tank.

Eh, I didn’t think of that. A small HOB filter would be better, if you wish to use your seeded sponges.

 

[Ch4rlie]

What meant was, you can use one of the sponges or even half of one of the sponge media that you showed in your picture in earlier post.

Then tie that piece of cycled sponge onto a new simple sponge filter just for the QT tank (means don't need to put sponge filter into your main tank).
That bit of sponge media should hold enough bb to transfer to the simple sponge filter and basically a mini cycle if not instant cycle if only one or a few fish going into the QT.

Once QT is finished, throw away or throughly clean all the sponge media and/or replace for the next time you need a QT.

Remember to put in a new piece of same sized sponge media back into the main filter so you dont lose any media, the bacs will quickly colonise the new media. therefore you will always have one piece of spare media in main tank filter should you ever need it for QT.

Hope that makes more sense.

 

[Chris1212]

No that makes perfect sense. I'm hoping to buy a school of glofish in a couple weeks to quarantine and then intro into my main tank. I just saw the caf-10 sponge filter seems to have a compartment below the sponge I could out some of my seeded matrix while also tiring a used sponge like you suggest.