Adding new bio media to existing tank

[Tpepe321]

I have a 125g with 2 seachem tidal 110s. My tank has frontosa in there already. I’m keeping my current media bags in the filters.

I plan on adding Purigen and bio rings, one bag of each to both of my filters. If I put both bags of bio rings and both bags of purigen in at the same time is there any chance of an ammonia spike or any other issues?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Had to look up Purigen. I have not used it so did not want to comment about it. What I found is interesting. Seems it is a plastic ( polymer) media of some sort. Some of the claims seem bold but i cannot naysay. That it can be recharged and then reused seems promising.

How To Use Purigen? (Complete Guide To Set up & Use Purigen)

How To Use Purigen? This ultimate guide for setting up the purigen & using it in the best ways will help you get clear water in fish tanks.

fishcaring.com

On to bio-rings and potential ammonia spikes. I do not see a reason for an ammonia spike. The beneficial bacteria (bb) are in a constant balance within a tank. My take is adding more media ought not to change the balance assuming no other changes are made at the same time. I gather the tank is cycled and setup long enough to have an established population of bb. If that established population of bb have been taking care of the ammonia there ought to be no change with new media.
The size of the bb populations is keyed to ongoing amounts of ammonia & nitrite in the tank. Think of ammonia & nitrite as food for the bb populations. The current bio load of fish waste, respiration, decay of organic matter such as excess uneaten food make up the food source for the bb. If those things stay the same the bb populations will be adjusted to that amount of food.
Will the bb make new colonies on the new media? Perhaps so. Perhaps if a colony elsewhere is struggling or on the decline a new colony might start up to take up the slack of a decline elsewhere. Point being if you already have enough bb the new media ought not encourage more. Their food supply being a limiting factor. That said adding new media ought not hurt.

Someone else will have to address what implications result from the purigen.

 

[RyanScanner]

If you are not replacing the bio media just make sure it’s in a chamber after the biomedia because it may remove the food source for your BB until it is has fully charged. By then your BB may have had a population crash then you will get an ammonia spike.

 

[tlindsey]

I plan on adding Purigen

Have you always used that product?

 

[RyanScanner]

I have in my main tank, it removes tannins brilliantly but I’m not sure about the rest, I have about 30kg of driftwood in that planted tank so I didn’t want tea water. Removes it all 100%. I don’t find it helps with excess phosphate and my ammonia is undetectable anyway.

 

[cockroach]

I shy away from any products that add or take away anything in the water. In time they are forgotten and issues arise. That has been my experience.
Although, more disciplined people who are good with routine maintenance fair much better with this.
Unless serving a temporary purpose, you should aim to build a balanced system.

As mentioned, if you are simply adding more bio-media, there will be zero effect on your ammonia besides a gradual reduction as the new media is colonized by beneficial bacteria.
If you are replacing old media with new media, it is slightly different. Removing mature media removes the attached bacteria. To mitigate any negative effects, replace it in batches.
E.g., split the new media into 5 batches. Each week, replace one batch. Over 5 weeks it is all replaced and your filtering capacity won't skip a beat.

Alternatively, you could place new media in a stocking or onion sack type mesh bag, hang it in front of your pump outlet and seed it for a week. Shaking your filter will help loosen some biofilm and the outlet will blow it onto the new media. After a week, remove old and place the new media in its place.

 

[tlindsey]

That has been my experience.

My experience as well.

 

[Tpepe321]

If you are not replacing the bio media just make sure it’s in a chamber after the biomedia because it may remove the food source for your BB until it is has fully charged. By then your BB may have had a population crash then you will get an ammonia spike.

@RyanScanner not sure if I’m following you. I have HOB filters. In the filter I have a sponge, filter floss and my existing media bag from bottom to top. My plan is to add 1 pound of These bio rings and one of These 100ml purigen bags to both of my seachem tidal 110 HOB filters.

What do you mean by add them to a chamber after my biomedia?

 

[Tpepe321]

Have you always used that product?

@tlindsey
No I recently took over this tank and am trying to make some improvements to the filtration media.

I don’t have live plants or driftwood tannis aren’t an issue. Water clarity is not bad but could be better. Particles, little off colored water…
My reasoning for adding it was to improve water clarity and another way to absorb Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate

 

[Tpepe321]

I shy away from any products that add or take away anything in the water. In time they are forgotten and issues arise. That has been my experience.
Although, more disciplined people who are good with routine maintenance fair much better with this.
Unless serving a temporary purpose, you should aim to build a balanced system.

As mentioned, if you are simply adding more bio-media, there will be zero effect on your ammonia besides a gradual reduction as the new media is colonized by beneficial bacteria.
If you are replacing old media with new media, it is slightly different. Removing mature media removes the attached bacteria. To mitigate any negative effects, replace it in batches.
E.g., split the new media into 5 batches. Each week, replace one batch. Over 5 weeks it is all replaced and your filtering capacity won't skip a beat.

Alternatively, you could place new media in a stocking or onion sack type mesh bag, hang it in front of your pump outlet and seed it for a week. Shaking your filter will help loosen some biofilm and the outlet will blow it onto the new media. After a week, remove old and place the new media in its place.

@cockroach thank you! I will be keeping my existing media bag in the filter.
After a quick google search I saw something that said to add new media in small batches over a few days to avoid disrupting the established bacterial colony too drastically.

Do you think adding 2 pounds of new bio rings with the 2 bags of purigne would be ok or should I just add them all gradually to be safe?