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Genzman17
12/30/2008, 02:32 PM
I think I read that you can help keep the ammon,nitruite, and nitrates low in a QT by adding a "sponge" from your display tank? Is this correct, and how do you do it?

Do I just take the sponge in my filter and drop it in my QT? How do you know if the sponge has the bacteria on it before putting it in the QT?

I have a 55 gallon reef tank so I can use rocks from in there, or take the sponge out of my HOB filter (but I don't see how this would havethe correct bacteria on it)

Any help would be great. Thanks!!!

jenglish
12/30/2008, 02:38 PM
any surface in your DT will have good nitrifying bacteria on it if its been in there long enough (few weeks at least)... especially your foam in your HOB filter. Thats what its in there for is to grow bacteria.

If there is no water flow the foam and the bacteria in it are only going to process the water around them. You can put it near a powerhead. I like to use an air powered foam filter and just put it in the DT to build up bacteria and move it to the QT when needed. Just remember anything you are exposing to copper or medications cannot be moved back to the DT. Well, some can but in most cases its not a good idea. HTH

reefworm
12/30/2008, 02:44 PM
here you go [from waterkeepers newbie post at the top of the forum]
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php

Genzman17
12/30/2008, 02:56 PM
Thank you very much!!!

reefworm
12/30/2008, 03:00 PM
;)

kernyboy
12/30/2008, 03:07 PM
don't bother. you will only kill your fish in the process

reefworm
12/30/2008, 03:21 PM
don't bother with what? quarantining in general or the sponge from the sump idea? both are established and proven practices. read the link a couple of posts up.

jenglish
12/30/2008, 04:22 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14043748#post14043748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kernyboy
don't bother. you will only kill your fish in the process

Lets not be hasty with advising not to QT due to 1 experience ;)

Genzman17
12/30/2008, 09:43 PM
So I dropped my DT filter foam into my QT. It's just floating around the top of the tank. I got a mj600 in there pushing water around. Is it alright the foam pad is floating at the top or should I weight it down somehow? It's a 30 gallon tank if that matters.

reefworm
12/30/2008, 11:03 PM
should be fine. what filtration do you have in the tank that the foam will jump start? watch for the spikes to make sure you've cycled

Genzman17
12/31/2008, 07:06 AM
The QT tank just has a HOB trickle filter with Carbon and a foam pad...... is that ok? I'll be checking my parameter's everyday for awhile to make sure things don't go out of wack....

reefworm
12/31/2008, 08:15 AM
I think you have the right approach there. The cycle may take a bit longer 'cause of the HOB pad's small surface area - that's been my experience. One more patience-building opportunity ;)