Quick Question

[memojo1979]

At this moment in time, my 2 adult female axies are in a 3ft tank (with a Fluval U3 filter + airstone), the adult male is by himself in a 2ft tank (with a sponge filter that also adds oxygen to the water), my friend's 3 mini-adults are in large margarine tubs (doing daily water changes) + the 4 new juveniles (2 are mine, 2 are Raziela's) are in pairs in large margarine tubs (doing daily water changes)...
I found another unused Fluval U3 filter on eBay, for just over £20 inc. P+P (they usually sell for £30-£40), so I've bought that + I'm waiting it to arrive, so my adult male can upgrade to the 2nd 3ft tank + my juveniles can go into his 2ft tank.
When the 2nd filter arrives, would it be a good idea to speed up the cycling process by swapping 1 of the foam pads + poly/carbon cartridges(there are 2 foam pads + 2 poly/carbon cartridges in each filter), along with some of the Biomax pieces ( FLUVAL - Where design meets innovation )from the current filter + new filter? Or would that be likely to upset the balance in my current tank?

 

[Star]

I'm not fully sure but I plan on upgrading mine soon since they no longer make the foam for them But I remember seeing that washing the new pads in some old tank water should help or leaving them to soak for a few days before using them. Could do with someone confirming this though or telling me why I'm wrong but that was my take on what was read

 

[memojo1979]

PMSL - Didn't know they were going to stop making the foam! Fairly sure I can mock that up out of something similar though :happy: I figured changing 1/2 of the stuff would also save me replacing them, which I'm terrible at doing when I'm meant to

 

[carsona246]

I use polyfiber in my canister filter. Much cheaper, you just have to make sure you get the right size. Using some old filter media to seed your new filter is a good idea. I don't think you'd upset the balance in your old tank, but if you want to be safe, maybe just take a little of the new media at a time. You shouldn't need much to seed your tank so long as you have an ammonia source present. I seeded my 40 breeder with a tiny sponge filter, and it worked out just fine. One thing you could do if you're really worried about it, is get a sponge filter started in your old tank, and after a week just stick the sponge filter on your new one

 

[memojo1979]

Well, I've already got a sponge filter going in the 2ft tank that my boy is in, so I could add that at the same time as the new filter, with 1/2 the current filter stuff in it - that should give it a darn good start! But, I was going to just transfer my new leucy babies into the 2ft tank. Guess I could do that after + do daily 20% water changes in the 2ft tank in the mean time, to stop the water stagnating. Would that work?
I've also found a pair of 4ft tanks + stand for £120 nearby (exactly the style I want), so might be easier to get the girls transferred into 1 of them 1st - if I use the same filter, same plants, same hides, same fake greass flooring (without letting them dry out or rinsing them), that should be fine for a straight swap over into the bigger tank, shouldn't it (after thorough cleaning of the new tanks, since they're 2nd hand).... If I monitor the chemical levels. I'll obviously need to add an extra ft worth of water though, LoL!