AquaClear setup, beneficial bacteria, etc...

[meangene714]

I just got done setting up my new AC 110(500) for my (established) 115g that was/is running an Eheim 2217. I didn't use the charcoal that it came with, so I have a little extra room in the box to play with. I was thinking about adding some type of fine filter media and maybe some bioballs instead of the cylinder things it came with. I've always liked the way bioballs looked, especially with a clear filter like the AC.

So, I'm just looking for some feedback on how others set up their AC. Or any suggestions for the 2 filters I'm using. This is my first HOB filter.

I was also wondering, how long will it take to establish the bacterial colonies?
Should I add some old media or gravel to get it started?

The reason I'm asking is because (as far as I know) the beneficial bacteria is not floating around in the water column. So how will it get established in a new filter?

 

[daveedka]

there are several ways you could go bioballs would be one of them. Ceramic noodles stars etc. are also a good option, but wouldn't give you the same look. Bioballs do not have nearly as much srface area as the ceramic bio-mdias, but they do have good surface area, and would work. You can also just stuff two sponges in there, and be careful how you rinse them (tank water) in order to keep the bacteria from being killed. Sponges do house a lot of bacteria as well, and are also good mechanical filters which don't cost much and last a long time. I have run Efhimec in my Ac 500, but eventually converted to sponges only after I used the efhimec to start other tanks. I also highly reccomend a prefilter sponge. the Pengun revers flow sponges will fit nicely on your AC suction tube (that's the set-up I use) and IF you rinse the prefilter sponge every week during maintenance time, you will only have to clean the internal sponges once in a great while. I pull the sponges out of the filter and clean them about once every 6 weeks, but they aren't all that dirty when I do this.

As far as estabilishing the bacteria, the more you add to the tank the faster the cycle estabilishes itself. Assuming this is an operating tank already)If you are running the eheim at this time, just add on the AC and let it run for a week or two, then remove the eheim (if that is your intent) if you can't or don't want to leave the eheim in place, or if this tank isn't estabilished yet pull the media out and put as much as you can in the AC on top of the sponge. Then give it a couple of weeks to colonise on the sponge before you remove it.
You are correct that the bacteria isn't just floating around in large quantities. there is a little floating around but not enough to help much. any surface in the tank will have a bacteria colony on it. the more pourous, and the better the oxygen level the more bacteria the surface will have. filter media is usually the best colony, gravel is good, but if you aren't running UGF, the gravel is limited by oxygen to some extent. coarse rocks are also good, and the nasty mulm (fish poop) in your filter contains a good bit as well. everything will help some things more than others. if you start with a good bacteria colony, the cyle will run very quickly, sometimes only a few days when you add a lot of media or other material. IF you add no bacteria at all it will take 4-6 weeks usually closer to 4 IME.
HTH
Dave

 

[meangene714]

Thank you for the fast reply. I do intend to run both filters simultaneously, but I think I'll add a handfull of gravel to speed things up a little.

I kind of like the prefilter idea. But would it deprive the bacteria in the filter of nutrients in any way?

What kind of filtration do you have on your 115g?

 

[daveedka]

It shouldn't effect anything except the wrk you do. once estabilished the bacteria will have plenty of food, and will live anywhere there is a good surface to cling to.
Dave