Used Filter Media

[bymauldin]

I am in the process of cycling my 10 gal tank when it hit me out of no where...my sister has a 5 gal that she's been running for 8-10 months now. If I bought her a new filter and used her old one to help cycle my tank would it uncycle hers? Or would there be enough bacteria established in her tank now to do no harm?? Excuse me for my ignorance-but would I throw my current filter away or would I simply use both filters?

 

[xingumike]

hers would cycle again, the bacteria is held in the filter.

If you can take some of the media from hers and put it in your filter that will help speed things up as starting the bacteria off is the slowest thing, but you need to leave some established media in hers to keep it going

 

[bymauldin]

I've never done this before (can't you tell ) So, what part of the media would I take? How would I do this? Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[xingumike]

well i imagine due to size issues as much as anything that the filter on a 5gal tank can only really consist of one sponge is that right?

If so i would cut it in half and make a corresponding space in your new filter for it to go.

Check with her first, depending on her stocking levels, feeding regime, water change schedule etc as doing this could cause a mini cycle on her tank. You would need to keep a close eye on her params

 

[ValerieM]

I think if hers did go through another cycle, it would be minimal. Nitrifying bacteria inhabit most surfaces in your tank (substrate, decor, etc.), granted the concentration tends to be greater in the filter b/c of all the surface area available on the media inside. Still it's best to leave some established media in her filter. I would just take a little bit of the media (filter pad, carbon, etc.) she gets rid of when she replaces it and stick it in your own filter to get yours established. You could even borrow a plant/decor to seed your tank. Another idea is to place a small media bag containing GAC in her tank, give it time to establish a bacterial colony and then move it over to yours.

 

[bymauldin]

Well, I got the filter pad from my sisters aquarium and added it to my tank last night. I also have a small bag of gravel suspended in panyhose in the back of my tank. My question is...Do I continue along with the cycling process like I was? Last night I tested my ammonia and it was at about 4ppm; Nitrites still at 0ppm. Do I need to raise the ammonia to 5ppm and wait...or should I just let it drop from 4ppm? Do I need to start testing for Nitrites now or wait until my ammonia drops to about 1-2ppm? I know I've still got to finish the cycling process I just didn't know if the method would change any or if the new filter would have any effect on the cycling process (besides HOPEFULLY speeding it up! I'm so darn impatient! )

Any advice (or words of encouragement ) would be great!

 

[mark.w.jones]

Well, I got the filter pad from my sisters aquarium and added it to my tank last night. I also have a small bag of gravel suspended in panyhose in the back of my tank. My question is...Do I continue along with the cycling process like I was? Last night I tested my ammonia and it was at about 4ppm; Nitrites still at 0ppm. Do I need to raise the ammonia to 5ppm and wait...or should I just let it drop from 4ppm? Do I need to start testing for Nitrites now or wait until my ammonia drops to about 1-2ppm? I know I've still got to finish the cycling process I just didn't know if the method would change any or if the new filter would have any effect on the cycling process (besides HOPEFULLY speeding it up! I'm so darn impatient! )

Any advice (or words of encouragement ) would be great!

Leave it to drop to 0ppm. Then raise it straight back up to 5ppm again. At most you will get up to adding your ammonia solution every day to raise the level up again. Your mature sponge will really help speed things up. As mentioned above. Check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels in your sisters tank every day for the next week, just incase she gets a spike. If she does, just do a 20% water change every other day to bring the nasty levels back down.