filter media exchange

[kagome]

Given that I have had trouble with getting my tanks to cycle in the past I was wondering about some different techniques for seasoning filter media to put in a new tank. When I went to put media in my little tank to season it to put it in my bigger tank I constantly ran into the problem that what would fit the filter in one tank would not fit in the other. Also, I couldn't simply take the sponge prefilter from the HOB on the smaller tank and put it on the HOB for the bigger tank because it was too small and did not allow enough flow through for the bigger filter. A bigger sponge prefilter would not fit on the intake of the filter on the smaller tank so I couldn't accomplish it that way either. So I was wondering, the next time I am going to cycle a tank, couldn't I order my sponges for prefilter and stand alone sponge filter well ahead of time, take them off of their plastic frames so that it is just the sponge itself and then put the sponges in the HOB filter to season? I was thinking that with no plastic frame the sponge would squish into whatever shape I needed it to and I wouldn't have to worry about the difference in the widths of the back of HOB filters. I've found that the sponge material is a much better media for the nitrifying bacteria and so I would much rather use them than any other media like cartridges anyway.

I was also wondering about the crushed volcanic rock. I was looking over Carl's article about filter media and so I know that you are supposed to put it in a mesh bag and put it in the HOB filter but I am not sure how much to use per gallon. I think once I had sponge's seasoned and in the new tank that I could put a bag of volcanic rock in the little filter to season and then add it to the new filter, even adding some more if not enough for the bigger tank would fit in the filter for the smaller tank. I'm sure that the colonies on the seasoned rock would quickly colonize the new rock.

What do ya'll think?

[Carl]

Unless I missed something, these are excellent ideas and ones (the sponges in particular) that I have used.

I would leave the stand alone sponge filters for at least 6 weeks and then whether you use them as a stand alone in a new tank or whether you place them in a HOB filter in an area of good water flow the effect should be fine. I would note that if the Sponge Filter is taken off its normal platform and "squished" into a HOB filter that it should be given at least 6 weeks in this HOB filter near its bio grid or similar before removing, otherwise full seeding is not likely to occur.

This is where if you use volcanic rock, this can be more easily permanently added to your HOB filter so that removal would not be an issue.
As a side note to volcanic rock, since it has deep pores it can also perform some de-nitrifying, thus helping in nitrate control.

Carl

[kagome]

How do I know how much crushed volcanic rock to use? Is there a weight to gallon ratio of some kind? Or is it just what will fit in the HOB filter comfortably and still allow flow?

[bikeguy33]

whatever you can fit while still allowing flow is the best. the more the better.

another way to add seasoned media when it wont fit into a filter is to simply throw carbon, sponge whatever into a nylon bag with a rock to sink it and simply let it sit in your tank for a few weeks. this isnt as ideal as having inside of a filter because of the reduced water flow, but it still works well....