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Seeding a new filter

Tucker90

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28 Feb 2016
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358
Location
Derby
Normally wouldn’t think twice about this, but it’s scaling up bigger than I have before.

607cec32491e06397df0b2ea3c8df350.jpg


I’m assuming putting all the old media form the sunsun into the oase isn’t going to be sufficient enough to keep a 140L cycled enough to house shrimp and 4 CPD’s?

Or will it?

Will be doing daily 50% water changes, hardscape and plants from the 35L will be used in the 140L.

As always your advise is very much appreciated!


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If you put some of you old media eg sponge, in the first media tray of new filter, the bacteria will respond quickly and also colonise the new media. Plus your livestock load is relatively low IMO.
Pre wet new media, then squeeze out old media ( without washing it) will also help
 
If you put some of you old media eg sponge, in the first media tray of new filter, the bacteria will respond quickly and also colonise the new media. Plus your livestock load is relatively low IMO.
Pre wet new media, then squeeze out old media ( without washing it) will also help

I was going to put all the media from the sunsun into the oase on the first tray, as to give it maximum exposure.

So mixed reviews so far, hopefully will get some more opinions!


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Bactria are 0.5–5.0 micrometres in size and can double every 20mins under 'idea conditions'. So if you start with one and have 'ideal conditions' wait 72 hours and you will have a volume of bacteria that's larger than the size of planet earth. Ideal conditions will never be reach (hopefully) but even with very sub optimal conditions if seeded with old 'active' sponges/media if will not take long, just make sure you prime your tank water as adding it and wait 10mins before turning filter on and you should be fine with low livestock load, sparingly feed livestock for few days
 
What's the bio load on the small filter compared to the new bigger filter? If they are similar then it should be fine to simply transfer the media over.
You're covering all the bases by doing 50% daily water changes anyway and like Zeus says the new tank is as a relatively low bio load.
 
Bactria are 0.5–5.0 micrometres in size and can double every 20mins under 'idea conditions'. So if you start with one and have 'ideal conditions' wait 72 hours and you will have a volume of bacteria that's larger than the size of planet earth. Ideal conditions will never be reach (hopefully) but even with very sub optimal conditions if seeded with old 'active' sponges/media if will not take long, just make sure you prime your tank water as adding it and wait 10mins before turning filter on and you should be fine with low livestock load, sparingly feed livestock for few days

Great stuff! Thanks for that Zeus ! Appreciate it!


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Hi all,
Will be doing daily 50% water changes, hardscape and plants from the 35L will be used in the 140L.
I’m assuming putting all the old media form the sunsun into the oase isn’t going to be sufficient enough to keep a 140L cycled enough to house shrimp and 4 CPD’s?

Or will it?
If you put some of you old media eg sponge, in the first media tray of new filter, the bacteria will respond quickly and also colonise the new media. Plus your livestock load is relatively low IMO.
I was going to put all the media from the sunsun into the oase on the first tray, as to give it maximum exposure.
If they are similar then it should be fine to simply transfer the media over.
It will be absolutely fine, you haven't added any more bioload, all you've lost is the nitrification from <"the rhizosphere"> of the established plants and they should start growing again pretty quickly.

Also you will have <"more oxygen">, if you have more flow.

cheers Darrel
 
Just did maths to back it up, made a small error as the volume of bacteria would well exceed volume of earth
1614787163022.png

Well the 72hours was based on what I did/worked out over 30years ago for 'A' level Biology. Bacteria was smaller back in the old days 😂. But its the concept thats important. Take a grain of rice on chess board and double in on each square. On last square you have more grains of rice than is produced in the world in a year.
 
enough to house shrimp and 4 CPD’s?
Are they currently being supported by the old filter?
If so, transferring the media to the new filter will leave you with the same bacteria population, and the same fish and shrimp population, therefore no problems. Assuming you had no problems before. :)
And if the new tank is well-planted it would support that population with the plants alone.
 
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When I got a replacement 2nd filter, I just connected it up to the tank, no transferring of media. Next water change a week later the filter was rather dirty which was a shock/surprise....
 
Well it’s all up and running, turned out I had a few more fish and shrimps than I thought. Amazing what’s hiding in a year old scape.

Let’s see how they go!


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3 days in, all is well. Will give it a week or so before adding any more.


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