How long does it take for...

[solitude127]

How long does it take for a filter sponge to be colonized with bacteria? I have a sponge filter I'm going to use for my QT tank and would like to know what the shortest amount of time you think is needed for the sponge filter to sit in my sump before bacteria colonizes it.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

One week but the longer the better hth

 

[Reefomeez]

I was gonna guess a week at least. You could always buy a small bottle of bacteria to speed it up a little. Not ideal but if you're itching for QT...although I know you have the patience of Job.

 

[lowbudget]

a week or 2 give a a quick squeeze after a week see if anything cloudy comes out

 

[reefes pieces]

I tossed in Dr Tim's in the QT tank and haven't had a ammo spike yet. But if you have time, a week should get some bacteria on the sponge.

 

[Reefomeez]

give a a quick squeeze after a week see if anything cloudy comes out

That's just nasty Sahn...lol

 

[Tangwich]

depends...are you using legit bacteria or shnitz bacteria that he bought from El Piojito? LMAO

 

[solitude127]

depends...are you using legit bacteria or shnitz bacteria that he bought from el piojito? Lmao

lmao!

 

[El Dude]

One week but the longer the better hth

+1...

 

[SchnitzelReef]

depends...are you using legit bacteria or shnitz bacteria that he bought from El Piojito? LMAO

Ya this is really important. If u use the cheaper bacteria, ur gunna wanna wait at least 3-4 weeks. With the more expensive bacteria u will get instant colonization...3, maybe 4 minutes tops.

Good luck.

And remember..expensive bacteria is the only way to run a salt water fish tank.

 

[Reefomeez]

Ya this is really important. If u use the cheaper bacteria, ur gunna wanna wait at least 3-4 weeks. With the more expensive bacteria u will get instant colonization...3, maybe 4 minutes tops.

Good luck.

And remember..expensive bacteria is the only way to run a salt water fish tank.

You're finally making some sense. Lol

 

[DeadCalm]

Ya this is really important. If u use the cheaper bacteria, ur gunna wanna wait at least 3-4 weeks. With the more expensive bacteria u will get instant colonization...3, maybe 4 minutes tops.

Good luck.

And remember..expensive bacteria is the only way to run a salt water fish tank.

+1 on what this guy says.

 

[Six2seven]

Ya this is really important. If u use the cheaper bacteria, ur gunna wanna wait at least 3-4 weeks. With the more expensive bacteria u will get instant colonization...3, maybe 4 minutes tops.

Good luck.

And remember..expensive bacteria is the only way to run a salt water fish tank.

hahaha now I get it. what was I thinking all these years

 

[DeadCalm]

Mike, it looks like you've gotten some good info from the experts about your filter colonization question. I don't want to hijack your thread but can anyone identify this purple menace taking over my tank?

I've tried GFO, ROCks Carbon, poly filter, peroxide, apple cider vinaigrette dosing and nothing works. It's on my glass, rock and even sand. I'm thinking about starting over. Help


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BeanMachine]

Mike, it looks like you've gotten some good info from the experts about your filter colonization question. I don't want to hijack your thread but can anyone identify this purple menace taking over my tank?

I've tried GFO, ROCks Carbon, poly filter, peroxide, apple cider vinaigrette dosing and nothing works. It's on my glass, rock and even sand. I'm thinking about starting over. Help


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ummmm that's coraline algae... get to scraping.

Apple cider vinagrette? LOL

 

[SchnitzelReef]

That's a super invasive algae. U can scrape it again and again, but no matter what u do, it will always come back. That's an obvious sign ur using cheap bacteria. If I were u, I would buy the most expensive bacteria money can buy, and keep ur fingers crossed. Good luck...ur gunna need it

 

[BeanMachine]

Mike I still have that sock I didn't change that you mentioned ... If your interested but it's gonna cost ya. I tried to sell it to nick but he said it was too expensive he likes the cheap bacteria go figure.

 

[DeadCalm]

Ummmm that's coraline algae... get to scraping.

That's a super invasive algae. U can scrape it again and again, but no matter what u do, it will always come back.

Thank you both for your advise. I've spent my entire evening reading up on this purple plague and all that I've read completely contradicts your scraping advise. The general consensus is that scraping it will only make it spread faster. No thank you

People have had good luck with hypo calcium levels in their reef tanks and adding one Powder Blue Tang for every 25 gallons of tank volume. Their hard beaks are able to remove this algae in short order I guess.

It's now growing on the base of my coral so I hope these two tricks work

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BeanMachine]

Haha what? Do some more googling haha I'm kidding but seriously good luck with that ahaha

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I was joking. Wait are u serious?