Sufficient filtration for QT?

[csababubbles]

I have to set up another QT and all of my power filters w/ bio-wheels are being used at this point. I do have a never before used hang on the back power filter. Since its new it has no bacteria culture living on it and therefor cannot be used as a biological filter in a new QT.

I have a wetdry filter on another tank that has been in operation for years and years. Can I take out a handful of bioballs from this and put a couple in the actual quarantine tank floating and a handful directly inside the hang on the back mechanical filter so that theoretically it would act the same as a cycled filter? How would I know if there is enough bacteria on this to support a fish? Obviously I can test once the fish is in there and producing waste and I can test for ammonia/nitrite but is there a way i can tell before i put the fish in it?

 

[DonW]

Putting them in the tank isnt going to do much. How many can you fit in the filter?

Don

 

[mmkeeper]

You can use the bio wheel if you added a small fish like damsel or clown chromis and let it poop and seed the bio wheel. Since you already have a fish in the qt when you add your new fish he has company.

 

[csababubbles]

Putting them in the tank isnt going to do much. How many can you fit in the filter?

Don

I can put about 12 balls in the filter.

The reason I put some in the tank too was because the powerhead pulls them underwater with the suction and then shoots then through the center of the water column all the way across the tank, so the bacteria residing on the ball will constantly have new water flowing past it. The balls them slowly float back and the cycle happens over and over again. Not as good as the ones sitting in the filter and having water rush past it but at least supplemental to them.

 

[csababubbles]

You can use the bio wheel if you added a small fish like damsel or clown chromis and let it poop and seed the bio wheel. Since you already have a fish in the qt when you add your new fish he has company.

I have several biowheels but they are all being used in other tanks as the sole biological filter. Each tank only has one livestock item. I dont like having more then one fish in a given QT.

I have an idea. I have a QT with a bunch of snails and shrimp being quarantined that has a biowheel and a large piece of live rock. Since that live rock is prolly doing a lot of the biofiltration what if I switch the filters? Meaning use that biowheel filter thats definately already cycled on the new bare QT and use the "bioball" new filter on the snail tank since it already has live rock in it? Would this cross contaminate everything?

 

[DonW]

Figure about 1 gallon of bioballs per 50 gallons of water for a lightly stocked tank.

Don

 

[LakeEd]

I would think using your bio-balls to help "jump-start" your filtration probably won't hurt...but may not help a bunch either.

Remember, a lot of the things that happen in our QT tank, don't promote a healthy biofiltration system. Lowering the Specific Gravity, as well as many of the treatments (copper for instance)... all have their way with our biofilters.

You will just have to be very good about testing your QT tank, and the corrisponding water changes to help with water quality issues. I found the water changes to be the single most important and easy to accomplish part of running my QT.

Good luck with your QT, and keep us all informed how things go for you!