Draining tank - how to save biological filter

Newms118 · 05/16/2016, 05:47 PM

Hey guys,

I will be temporarily draining a quarantine tank to store for about a week or so and want to preserve the bacteria to start it up quick later. Its just finished cycling and doesnt have any fish in it at the moment. I have a HOB filter that just has some filter mesh to remove waste flakes etc, and I assume that has the majority of the bacteria attached. So the question is, how to best save this bacteria? Can I just transfer the filter mesh to a bucket with salt water and leave it? Does the temperature need to stay at 77 degrees C or can it be left at room temperature? Do I need to keep the HOB filter going (in other words, have it attached on the bucket so that its still filtering)?

Thanks for any help.

Flippers4pups · 05/16/2016, 06:02 PM

It's best to keep QT filter material in your DT sump until needed as long as the material wasn't exposed to copper, meds..... Etc. if it was, you must throw it away. If you keep it in a bucket long term without water movement, it may die off.

jbvdhp · 05/16/2016, 06:14 PM

If you keep it in a bucket, keep a powerhead in there too, or just run the HOB filter in the bucket. IF there were parasites in the QT, I wouldn't put it in the DT sump.

Alternatively, you can get new media and sump it, and when you need it again later, just pull that stuff out and use it in the QT.

SeattleReefer · 05/16/2016, 07:18 PM

I use a few Marinepure balls to easily house and transfer established biological populations from tank to tank.

05/16/2016, 05:47 PM	#1
Newms118 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 364	Draining tank - how to save biological filter Hey guys, I will be temporarily draining a quarantine tank to store for about a week or so and want to preserve the bacteria to start it up quick later. Its just finished cycling and doesnt have any fish in it at the moment. I have a HOB filter that just has some filter mesh to remove waste flakes etc, and I assume that has the majority of the bacteria attached. So the question is, how to best save this bacteria? Can I just transfer the filter mesh to a bucket with salt water and leave it? Does the temperature need to stay at 77 degrees C or can it be left at room temperature? Do I need to keep the HOB filter going (in other words, have it attached on the bucket so that its still filtering)? Thanks for any help.

05/16/2016, 06:02 PM	#2
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	It's best to keep QT filter material in your DT sump until needed as long as the material wasn't exposed to copper, meds..... Etc. if it was, you must throw it away. If you keep it in a bucket long term without water movement, it may die off. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

05/16/2016, 06:14 PM	#3
jbvdhp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,131	If you keep it in a bucket, keep a powerhead in there too, or just run the HOB filter in the bucket. IF there were parasites in the QT, I wouldn't put it in the DT sump. Alternatively, you can get new media and sump it, and when you need it again later, just pull that stuff out and use it in the QT. __________________ This hobby = no more money Current Tank Info: 8' 240 gallons of headache

05/16/2016, 07:18 PM	#4
SeattleReefer Moved On Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 230	I use a few Marinepure balls to easily house and transfer established biological populations from tank to tank.