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Looking for used filter media

Trev

Trev

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11 augustus 2026
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Hi, I have a new aquarium, with fish in it for 3 weeks. 3 days ago only nitrite level went up. From what I found online - the used aquarium filter media from an established tank will help to speed up the cycle. I’m changing the water twice a day, which stresses my fish and I am not sure if that helps to existing bacteria to grow.
I live in Eindhoven, can someone please advise where can I get the media (a near by fish shop doesn’t provide it), or maybe someone have it and can share. I will appreciate that a lot.
 
Have you tried asking at Heevis? They are a relatively well-known fish shop.

I don't live in the area unfortunately.

Also, how much nitrite did you measure? Up until a certain point, your fish will still be fine. Might give you an easier time dealing with this if you know the limits. Here is some more info:

https://aquariumscience.org/5-3-safe-nitrite-levels/
 
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Waarderingen: Trev
You can add bacteria with Tetra Bactozym or Colombo Bactostart...
 
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Waarderingen: Trev
Hello, thanks for the link. Yes I contacted Heevis, but they don’t sell filter media, only live bacterias. Which I am going to get now. The level increases every day by 0,2. Now it’s 0,6..
 
I see. 🙂 Personally I'd advise against using "bacteria in a bottle" products for this use case. They don't generally do a whole lot, and nitrifying bacteria in particular don't transport all that well. (This is assuming they've even included the right types in their bottle product, which typically is not the case.)

Besides, there are lots of inoculation points for them in your tank already. They just need some time to develop.

I'd say lean back, monitor your nitrite levels, and consider using some table salt to replace the extra water changes you'd otherwise be doing. The article I mentioned contains instructions for that. 🙂 You'll be fine.
 
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Trev zei:
Hello, thanks for the link. Yes I contacted Heevis, but they don’t sell filter media, only live bacterias. Which I am going to get now. The level increases every day by 0,2. Now it’s 0,6..
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I would every day do a 80% water change until NO2 is 0.

Tell is please the measurments (cm lengte, deel, high..) and liters of the tank. And what sort of filter do you use?
Internal filter or extern?
 
Trev zei:
Hi, I have a new aquarium, with fish in it for 3 weeks. 3 days ago only nitrite level went up. From what I found online - the used aquarium filter media from an established tank will help to speed up the cycle. I’m changing the water twice a day, which stresses my fish and I am not sure if that helps to existing bacteria to grow.
I live in Eindhoven, can someone please advise where can I get the media (a near by fish shop doesn’t provide it), or maybe someone have it and can share. I will appreciate that a lot.
Klik om te vergroten...
I have a bucket of cycled media in Vlaardingen... Not nearby tho, I would also advise you to measure and do daily water changes
 
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Friesian zei:
I would every day do a 80% water change until NO2 is 0.

Tell is please the measurments (cm lengte, deel, high..) and liters of the tank. And what sort of filter do you use?
Internal filter or extern?
Klik om te vergroten...
It’s 30L nano tank 30x30x35. it came with cartridge filter. My concern now is that all information I found online says to change water daily. Yesterday I went to a fish shop (to pick up Colombo live bacto) and they told me that with constant water change the ecosystem will practically never settle.
 
Trev zei:
It’s 30L nano tank 30x30x35. it came with cartridge filter. My concern now is that all information I found online says to change water daily. Yesterday I went to a fish shop (to pick up Colombo live bacto) and they told me that with constant water change the ecosystem will practically never settle.
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That's BS. Fish shops have a motivation to sell you something, so they will nearly always recommend bacto starter stuff, but nitrifying bacteria need a surface to attach to for them to survive (that and oxygen). Water changes don't change anything in that regard, it just gets rid of waste and excess nutrients in the water column. Also, the cartridges can be a pain to deal with.
 
Friesian zei:
Dear @Trev
I think I understand now your problems.

I would recommend a bigger tank. For example 60 liter.
I would suggestie to take a look at the site Hornbach. A nearby store is in Best.

https://www.hornbach.nl/p/eheim-aquarium-aquastar-led-zwart-54-l-60x30x30-cm/6826636/

Please place a photo of your tank including the fishes.
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"Bigger is better" natuurlijk, maar wat je hiermee eigenlijk zegt (als ik je goed begrijp hoor) is dat hij beter niet aan een nanobak kan beginnen? Ik denk dan: feit is dat die bak er staat, en er zal een reden zijn dat er voor een kleine bak gekozen is. Heel veel mensen houden met succes nano's. So why not. 🙂
 

Nou nee, niet helemaal... Met 3 vissen in 30 liter weten we niet wat voor vissen het om gaat. Er zijn nog mogelijk dingen die van belang zijn... En een grotere bak biedt meer mogelijkheden qua gezondheid van vissen.

Daarom zeg ik ook dat ik denk de problemen te begrijpen...

Daarom ook een verzoek van een foto. Een totaalplaatje biedt meer houvast..
 
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Duidelijk. Maar maak je het dossier dan niet groter dan het hoeft te zijn? 🙂 De hulpvraag van de topicstarter is simpelweg: help, mijn bak draait in en ik heb nitriet, wat nu.
 
Gino88 zei:
Duidelijk. Maar maak je het dossier dan niet groter dan het hoeft te zijn? 🙂 De hulpvraag van de topicstarter is simpelweg: help, mijn bak draait in en ik heb nitriet, wat nu.
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Niet perse, dat is niet mijn achterliggende gedachte. Het verhaal achter het verhaal zoals ik meestal denk.
Misschien is met een totaalplaatje, het hele dossier completer in plaats van alleen groter?
 
Friesian zei:
Dear @Trev
I think I understand now your problems.

I would recommend a bigger tank. For example 60 liter.
I would suggestie to take a look at the site Hornbach. A nearby store is in Best.

https://www.hornbach.nl/p/eheim-aquarium-aquastar-led-zwart-54-l-60x30x30-cm/6826636/

Please place a photo of your tank including the fishes.
Klik om te vergroten...
Friesian zei:
Dear @Trev
I think I understand now your problems.

I would recommend a bigger tank. For example 60 liter.
I would suggestie to take a look at the site Hornbach. A nearby store is in Best.

https://www.hornbach.nl/p/eheim-aquarium-aquastar-led-zwart-54-l-60x30x30-cm/6826636/

Please place a photo of your tank including the fishes.
Klik om te vergroten...
Yes, that’s my plan for this weekend to get him a bigger tank. Totally forgot about Hornbach, will check there as well. Maybe it’s too early to celebrate, but it looks like the water is stabilizing. I didn’t feed for 2 days, and today gave a small pinch of food, so will see how it develops.
 
I started this hobby from the wrong end. I went to the shop just to look at fish, and all of a sudden one hour later I am at home setting up my first tank. So I started to investigate it afterwards. I will share a foto tomorrow. Already left the home
 
Trev zei:
I started this hobby from the wrong end. I went to the shop just to look at fish, and all of a sudden one hour later I am at home setting up my first tank. So I started to investigate it afterwards. I will share a foto tomorrow. Already left the home
Klik om te vergroten...
Sadly you are not the only one....LFS should have given you more information, but I refer to my signature: NEVER TRUST a LFS!
It is more work and a bit stressy for the fish, but mostly it falls at its place....
 
Trev zei:
I started this hobby from the wrong end. I went to the shop just to look at fish, and all of a sudden one hour later I am at home setting up my first tank. So I started to investigate it afterwards. I will share a foto tomorrow. Already left the home
Klik om te vergroten...
It's not necessarily wrong. I started that way as well; although the guy at the LFS at the time took his sweet time explaining the basics and wouldn't sell me fish until he had tested my water parameters after 3-4 weeks. It would be wrong it they sold you a tank and fish straight away. Which is what I meant with most shops will always have motivation to sell you stuff.
Btw, it's perfectly safe to still feed normal amounts.
 
Koekieboe zei:
It's not necessarily wrong. I started that way as well; although the guy at the LFS at the time took his sweet time explaining the basics and wouldn't sell me fish until he had tested my water parameters after 3-4 weeks. It would be wrong it they sold you a tank and fish straight away. Which is what I meant with most shops will always have motivation to sell you stuff.
Btw, it's perfectly safe to still feed normal amounts.
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With the tank I was given bacterias to speed up the cycle, but I brought water to the shop for checking after 2 weeks, and apparently it was good to get the fish. And something somewhere went wrong after 3 weeks..
 
Yeah it's a well-known phenomenon in this hobby that you won't necessarily see toxic substances in measurable amounts in all stages of the cycling process. They gradually build up and they fluctuate.

The owner of the shop that tested your water is most likely very much aware of this. But as you often see in the business world, money is king. They know that if they were to tell you the whole story and hold you off as a customer (until your tank is cycled) they may lose you to their competitor.
 
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Trev zei:
With the tank I was given bacterias to speed up the cycle, but I brought water to the shop for checking after 2 weeks, and apparently it was good to get the fish. And something somewhere went wrong after 3 weeks..
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What I do is starting up my tank for 6 weeks without fish and without hocus pocus bottles.

I would recommend to order at the management of this community cans with patience. Unfortunately there is a waiting list... The factory who's responsible for the delivery is bankrupt... :((😀
 

Friesian zei:
.

What I do is starting up my tank for 6 weeks without fish and without hocus pocus bottles.

I would recommend to order at the management of this community cans with patience. Unfortunately there is a waiting list... The factory who's responsible for the delivery is bankrupt... :((😀
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😁. Yes there will be no rush anymore. Lesson learned
 
Trev zei:
😁. Yes there will be no rush anymore. Lesson learned
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Although 6 weeks is definitely on the safest side; common practice is to wait 4 weeks. after about 2 weeks, you can expect a spike in ammonia and 3 weeks for nitrites. When they're gone, you're set for fish - which usually around the 4 week mark.
 
Koekieboe zei:
Although 6 weeks is definitely on the safest side; common practice is to wait 4 weeks. after about 2 weeks, you can expect a spike in ammonia and 3 weeks for nitrites. When they're gone, you're set for fish - which usually around the 4 week mark.
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Thanks
 
One more question, do I understand correctly that I should add some fish food for bacterias while new tank is cycling?
 
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