When I started my 55 gallon I added two new Emperor 280 Bio-wheel filters to the tank, as well as a very established Whisper 20i. I have had the tank running for 21 days and have had it show "cycled" params (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 10-15 nitrates) for 16 days straight, so I think it is all cycled.

What I am wondering is when the new filters would be able to run on their own and have their own good bacteria built up? One of the Emperor's just has a regular filter cartridge with the floss and a sponge, and the media basket is filled wit crushed coral for my kh problems, so that was all new to start with. The other Emperor has the floss/sponge cartridge that was new, plus the media basket it filled with ceramic noodles that had been sitting in the old tank for 3 weeks prior to the new tank being started. Both Bio-wheels for these filters were floated in the old tank for three weeks as well. There is also a nylon bag of noodles on the floor of the tank that came from the old tank too. I don't know of three weeks in the old tank was enough time to build anything on those anyway though.

The established filter has a Bio-bag floss cartridge in it (with a plastic frame inside), plus a very well saturated sponge (eeeuuw)and is full of noodles in the back.

Basically, what I want to do is change the floss. It is SO gross and beyond swishing used tank water. But I have been afraid to mess with anything not wanting to crash the cycle. Do you think enough good stuff has build up everywhere else that I could do that now? I will leave the sponge and noodles alone although I really want to clean the whole thing, it is pretty gross being in a 30 gallon with 4 huge commons/comets for 8 months (I have changed the floss several times before).

Also, when do you think the Emperor's can be on their own without the Whisper? I will probably leave it in there anyway but I want to be able to pull it off if I need it for qt/hospital purposes.

I should also note that in the 55 gallon there is only a few rocks, it is mostly barebottom.

I have a hard time knowing what is just poo/muck and what is actually good bacteria, I mean i know I can;t see the bacteria but you know what I mean. The sponges in my Whispers are SO GROSS, full of stuff, but I am afraid to clean them too much. The noodles have been in there now for 6 weeks total, so hopefully they have some good stuff in them and someday I can spray the sponges with the power sprayer on my sink!

Thanks!

I would go ahead and do it now. Pull that floss out and replace it. Leave the rest alone. Next time you clean the tank, squeeze the sponges out in the used fish water really well. You cannot dislodge the bacteria - it is attached microscopically to the sponge, but you can remove the mulm. Actually, by opening up the sponge and removeing the waste, you allow more water to circulate through and more oxygen to get to the bacteria. They will be able to process even more.

Test your tank the day after to check for any cycle bumps, but, even though I doubt you will see any, if you do, they should be only a day or so in duration.

I gues what concerns me just a mite is that I know that in my two larger tanks - a 56 and a 58, I need more filtration than just the 280s. In the 55 I have two 280s and an Eheim 2028 cannister running. (2 very large fish that manage to challenge the biocycle every week) and in the 58, I have a 400 and a 280 running - Sterling and Toby in that tank - they do OK with that filtration, but heavy feeding can give it a workout. I found without the excess filtration, the water does not stay sparkling clear, and the cycle is a bit more sensitive to meds, etc. I am rough on cycles, but, by and large, they take just about anything I toss at them!

Your filters should be as seasoned as possible. Remember, you can only build as much bacteria as your fish can feed. So with an unchanging fish load, the bacteria colonies will level out too. They will be spread, pretty much between the filters. More in the one that has more platform, and less in the one that has less, but, pretty much between them. The Whisper is carrying a part of the working cycle of the tank.

The good thing is, when/if you pull the Whisper, you still have nice colonies built in the other filters. As long as you have sufficiant platform and circulation left, the colonies will quickly grow to meet the waste amounts. Within a day or so, they will grow more bacteria to process the waste - and the cycle will barely bump at all.

Sounds like you did a great job.

Thanks daryl! In the next week I am going to order an Emperor 400 and add it to the 55 so I will be overfiltered, I know with the twin 280's and the Whisper 20i that I am only at about 675 gph or so and with four large single tails in there I am still overstocked. Pulling the Whisper would only have me at 560gph, too low I think. And I KNOW they poo a lot, lol!

I am trying to decide what to do for the filtration on the 20 gallon...right now I only have the Whisper 40i on there and it only does 175 gph. I lost my little moor but the tiny calico telescope is still in there, and I will probably try my luck with another moor later next week if the calico does well. I know with two teeny fish in a 20 the 175gph will be ok for awhile, but maybe after the Emperor 400 is seasoned on the 55 I will just put the Whipser 20 back in the 20 gallon, which will bring it to 295 gph. 295 should be plenty for two teeny fish since those two Whipser filters amazinly handled my four single tails in that 20 for 8 months without a single cycle crash. I was going to put an Emperor 280 or Penguin 350 on the 20 gallon but I am thinking with such little fish that might be too much current and such? What do you think? When the fish get bigger I can always upgrade or move things around but I think the two Whipsers will do nicely and be gentle enough for little guys.

Let me know your opinions and thanks for answering my questions! I will be happy to get rid of that filter floss...eeeeuuuuuuw! I am always worried about doing too much at once, so when I water change tonight I'll pull the floss and then next time I will squeeze the sponge. Boy, I am really looking forward to touching that....*looks for gloves*.