Establishing a new filter

[johnsmith]

I have a new (to me) AC 500 that I'm going to put on my 33g once it has established a sufficient bacteria colony. Right now it's running on my other tank, with a Fluval 304, while an AC 200 filters my 33g.

How long to you think it will be before I can use the 500 as the sole filter on my 33g?

[arixonbarnes]

When I set up another tank I just take some water from another tank and a filter pad from another tank. You just dump your filter sponge into an existing tank for a few days to get the bacteria going (or a friend's if this is your first tank). I top the new tank off with fresh treated water (cloramines removed).

[Nyasa]

Just take the sponges from your AC 200 and pack them in under the new sponge from your AC 500 and you're good to go. After a couple of weeks you can discard the old 200 sponge and buy yourself a second AC 500 sponge to increase your filtration substrate.

[johnsmith]

you can discard the old 200 sponge and buy yourself a second AC 500 sponge to increase your filtration substrate.

Well, I won't need to discard the AC 200 sponges b/c I'm going to put that filter on my other tank. I also won't need to buy another AC 500 b/c I got 2 for 1 at Tanks Alot .

But, I will add the 200 sponges to the 500 for a few weeks.

Thanks Nyasa & arixonbarnes for you help.

[Nyasa]

2 for 1. That's a sweet deal. How much does a couple of AC 500 cost then?

[canuckle]

2 A/C500 SPONGES are $10.

[African_Fever]

And that's not at Golds!!!!!