TikkiMar

Ok, thank you for your help! I appreciate it.

How long does it take for beneficial bacteria to grow on a new sponge filter when placed in an already cycled tank? I want to switch to a sponge filter because my current hang on the back is submerging and killing my floating plants. However, I'm worried that if I remove my old one too soon, the sponge won't have enough beneficial bacteria to safely maintain my tank. If it helps, the tank is a 5.5 gallon planted betta tank and has been running for about seven months now.