Getting an Eheim 2213

[SLH]

I just ordered myself a Christmas present: an Eheim 2213. I also recently completely changed out ugly old gravel with flourite and sand about a week ago. My question is bacteria-based. Having just lost the bacteria in the old gravel bed, what is the best process for switching out the filter? Should I wait a week or two for the bacteria to grow back into the new substrate, or can I run the Eheim in tandem with the penguin until the bacteria grow in the new filter? Or, is there another, better choice?

Thanks in advance!
-Joe

[Daemonfly]

I'd run it in tandem for a few days to a week. This would also allow the substrate to start developing it's bacteria coverage as well.

[SLH]

Sounds like a good plan, but here's my thought (and I may be overthinking this): If there's bacteria already in the old filter and a colony starting in the new gravel, will bacteria grow in the new filter if it's not necessary?

[Wasserpest]

I think you are overthinking this :mrgreen:

The growth rate in the new filter and substrate will not be as quick, but there will be some bacteria settling down, which is what you want. When you take out the other filter, the already existing bacteria will probably grow faster: no cycling and spikes.

[SLH]

Allright! :mrgreen:

Thanks for the advice, guys!

-Joe

[Rex Grigg]

If you are really worried get some Bio-Spira.

[SLH]

I've heard conflicting stories about that stuff, but it was always from someone who hadn't used it. Have you ever tried it? Did it work?

[Momotaro]

Hey, if Rex recommends it, it works!

You might want to try cutting a piece of your Penguin's filter material and place it in the Eheim as a bacteria "seed".

Mike

[Rex Grigg]

I have used it in three tanks. And it actually works as claimed. I was never a believer in the "Cycle in a bottle" products before. But Bio-Spira does work.

[Ace]

I placed the bacteria solution(xxx brand) in a spray bottle with some aged water and sprayed the whole tank gravel and leave it for 20-40 minutes.

[SLH]

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

I have used it in three tanks. And it actually works as claimed. I was never a believer in the "Cycle in a bottle" products before. But Bio-Spira does work.

Well, I'm a believer too, then! I'll have to see if any of the lfs around here carry it. Thanks!

[anonapersona]

Of the many, many accounts I have read, the only ones (actually 2 I think) that were less than perfectly successful were when the product was used contrary to the directions..... either adding it to a tank and then trying to maintain the bacteris with ammonia, or adding it to a tank that was stocked well before the addition of the product -- so that ammonia nd nitrites were already very high. Even then they reported that it worked, but rather slowly, like over several days I recall.

[SLH]

Jeez! I just checked a bunch of websites for bio-spira. Big Als, DrsFosterSmith, petsolutions, aquatic-store, aquariumcenter, and even petsmart. No-one carries this stuff. Where do you order it from, Rex?

[Rolo]

Many of petsmarts products are not on the internet, including bio-spira, but I was just there yesterday and they had plenty in stock. Call your local petsmart to see if they have it.

[Aftica]

Bio-Spira is hard to find - it's a product that requires refrigeration - so I guess mail order is out and many smaller LFS's dont want to buy a fridge for it etc... I don't expect to find it here at my LFS till 2067... :cry: