Seeding a new filter

[Steve]

I have a filter I picked up for my 75g tank which will house my 7" Bleekeri. It was used so I cleaned the media well just to be on the safe side. I've now got the filter (fluval 305) hooked up to a tank to seed it before I get the bleekeri tank filled and move it there. The tank I put it on is a 29g that have a pair of bio wheel 350 filters on it and is home to about ten 5" koi during the winter while the pond is frozen.

Don't really want to put any of the media from the 350's in the 305 because the bio load in the 29g is so heavy I don't want to disturb the colony that is on that tank. Question is- How long would you leave the filter on the established tank to get seeded before moving it to the 75g to filter the tank for the bleekeri? I'm thinking 2-3 weeks maybe should be good? 

[Regalblue]

I'd stir the substrate,  knocking a bunch of debris loose,  let the can suck it clean,  switch tanks, add some of the 29s substrate to the new tank & just monitor the nitrogen cycle.

[Steve]

I should have mentioned, the 29g with the koi is bare bottom and no decor.

[Regalblue]

Well then you're not going to be able to get any BB from it. It'll have to grow & populate.  I'd suggest using another tank to seed the can.

[Steve]

Okay I'll move it over to the frontosa 75g tank for a bit then.

[mibwb]

Put one of your dirty socks in it...that should have enough bacteria. But on second thought, you want beneficial bacteria not deadly bacteria. Just put the new filter on your frontosa  tank about two weeks or more your choice. This will give the bacteria a chance to colonize the filter media (ceramic rings, bio balls, sponges ect..) Plus to really help. Like Blair says take one of your pantyhose. Fill it with some substrate from an established tank and put it in the new tank too. You can also put it in the new filter too...to cut the time of cycling a new tank or new filter. Oh, the joy of setting up another tank...then another and.....

[jcunningham0295]

Are you trying to seed a sponge filter?  If so I can bring you a seeded one to the auction.

[Steve]

It's a fluval 305 that I'm trying to seed for my 75g bleekeri tank Josh.

 

[mibwb]

I forgot to add. I found a product from Ecological Labs called  GEL filter pad bacterial inoculant. You put it on your filter pads, bio-balls, ceramic media ect. This will help rapidly establish necessary biological activity in your filter. Contains the same spectrum of bacteria found in Microbe-Lift/PL. I've used it without a problem. I add it to my bio-balls, when I clean my wet/dry.

[Steve]

Is that something like Smartstart  Complete Mike?

[Bremmon]

Seachems bottled bacteria is the only one I have found that works very well. Typically what I do is take a sponge or a filter pad from one of my other tanks and rub it all over the new filter media and add some seachem... I have never had a single fish death that way.. just don't get ridiculous and drop 30 fish in there.

[jcunningham0295]

I have used SmartStart complete in a lot of my tanks with no issues.

[mibwb]

Is that something like Smartstart  Complete Mike?

Smart Start Complete you add to tank to cycle it or fix an out of whack tank. Then used as a maintenance. Gel is used to cycle a new filter. Then keep it balanced with good bio.