How long until bacteria grow on sponge?

[ldymcbeth6]

I have an established, cycled tank. If I put a sponge in the filter to collect bacteria to use in cycling another tank, how long do I have to leave it there?

Can I leave it in there all the time and take it out to use in a QT tank when I need one?

Thanks.

 

[J double R]

2 weeks would be a good safe bet.

 

[shirlz]

Why not replace a sponge out of your established filter with a new sponge and put the used one in the new filter in the new tank

 

[J double R]

Why not replace a sponge out of your established filter with a new sponge and put the used one in the new filter in the new tank

because then she would be removing established media from the tank, and that would cause a mini(or not so mini) cycle.

by placing the clean sponge in the established filter, you prevent any sort of cycling issues AND seed a new sponge.