New Filter Bacteria Growth

trapperwolves

I realize there are many factors that can determine the outcome of my question but:

After adding a new filter to a cycled and established aquarium how long, on average, would it take for the new filter to have bacterial growth?
The new filter does have mechanical and biologic media.

I realize I can take existing sponges, biological media, etc. from the current filter and add them to the new filter but I would prefer not to do that at this time.

I will be setting up another tank next week and was wondering if running the new filter for only 1 week (in an existing, cycled tank) would be enough time to help cycle the newer aquarium when the filter is moved into the new tank?

Please note I cannot just swap the filters as the established tank is a 55 gallon with a canister and the new tank will be a 10 gallon with a HOB.


Thank You,
Ed S

DKRST

I asked the same question a little while back. The consensus answer was a week or two, but I don't know of any scientific study to back that up. I ran a sponge filter for two weeks in an established tank and when I moved it to a new tank, I had no cycle issues at all, so it doesn't seem to take any longer than 2 weeks in a heavily stocked tank.

trapperwolves

Thanks Again DKRST

AbbeysDad

If I was you I wouldn't bother with running a filter for a couple of weeks or xfering filter material from an established filter to a new one...Rather, I'd bag a handful of substrate (gravel or sand) from the established aquarium in a nylon stocking or media bag and put it in the new filter or suspend in the new tank. If it's the same kind of substrate, you could just add it directly to the new tank's substrate to bio-seed the new tank.

We all want to believe (especially those of us with bio-ceramic and/or other filter bio-media) that the filter does the lions share of bio-filtration. I think if the truth were told and heard, the substrate in most tanks would far outweigh the filter in beneficial bacteria.

AD

trapperwolves

Thanks AD