"Tynk" wrote in message
ups.com...
You mentioned squeezing a sponge filter into a new tank to help jump
start the cycling process.
It was recently discovered that the nitrifying bacteria are quite
sticky and adhere to the surface they're on like glue.
In fact, it's actually pretty hard to get them off.
Using old tank water, debris from gravel (just the gunk, not the
actual gravel), and squeezing filter media will not add bacteria like
many of us (me included) once thought.
I learned this several years ago and have been talking about it
since.
An issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine a while back had an
article on this very thing.
I was so happy that they did that.
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I just use a whole Aquaclear sponge from a cycled tank now, or the bag of
bio-beads that sits on the sponge. It works really good..... ;-)
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
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