Using Seachem Stability to "seed" a QT
- Thread starter ltrace
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jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Can I add this after the fact? I have 2 Qt tanks. One has been up for a week and the other for 2 weeks. I can't get the ammonia down (using prime and water changes) below .1. I used Dr. Tims and a seeded sponge from my DT sump. One filter on the 55 is a penguin with the dual biowheels, and the other is an aqueon with the sponge on the outlet (where I assume the bacteria is supposed to live).
After medications have been dosed into the water, they will likely zap most of the live bacteria before it ever makes its way to the sponge.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Even CP? I thought CP didn't affect the biofilter
melypr1985
totally addicted
Most any medication can and will have an impact on bacteria. It's always best to err on the side of caution.
Just about all medications kill/damage free floating bacteria. It's not until they become entrenched in bio-media that they are protected. Many still die, but any survivors will adapt to the presence of the medication and quickly repropagate themselves. Bacteria are very resilient and are the hardest things to completely eradicate.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
So what are my options?
melypr1985
totally addicted
Simply continue with your plan to seed the sponge using stability, but do this for several days before starting the copper treatment if possible. No matter if you start copper right away or wait a few days first, still be ready to do water changes daily if needed until the tank fully cycles.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
I'm not using copper,. I'm using CP. I'll still try the same thing
melypr1985
totally addicted
The statement still applies.
+1 You can also take the sponge out, put it in a bucket with non-medicated SW, and seed it there for a week or so. And then put it back in your QT. The downside is you will have no working bio-filter during this time, so daily WCs might be required.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Do I need to heat it or anything? I have more filter pad material I can use+1 You can also take the sponge out, put it in a bucket with non-medicated SW, and seed it there for a week or so. And then put it back in your QT. The downside is you will have no working bio-filter during this time, so daily WCs might be required.
Bacteria are pretty hardy, they'll easily survive 60-80F temperature range. I would add an airstone or small powerhead for circulation though.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Can I use biomax rings in a QT? Will that absorb the CP mediaction?
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
I bought some biomax at Petco (on sale $9 for 500g). Do I just throw it in loose in the filter? Throw it in the tank loose like rocks, or put it in a media bag and put it in the tank?
I always experience amonia when setting up a qt with stability. I always follow the directions. Stuuf does not work very well.
For the future, place a sponge in your sump for a few weeks, that will seed the sponge, then move the sponge into the qt and now you have an instantly cycled QT. Just add an extra sponge in the sump so its always their when you need it. Just dont move it back to the sump from the qt. This can cause what ever disease exists in qt to move the the DT. So NEVER do this!
If it was me, I would hold off on the treatment and get the tank right first.
For the future, place a sponge in your sump for a few weeks, that will seed the sponge, then move the sponge into the qt and now you have an instantly cycled QT. Just add an extra sponge in the sump so its always their when you need it. Just dont move it back to the sump from the qt. This can cause what ever disease exists in qt to move the the DT. So NEVER do this!
If it was me, I would hold off on the treatment and get the tank right first.
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Seeing how you didn't read anything I previously posted, I DID use a seeded sponge and I already started treatment. The seeded sponge didn't work for me. It must not have had enough bacteria to support a porcupine puffer
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