How long to seed a bio-filtration sponge?

[migston]

I just bought a cheapo sponge filter and stuck it into my refugium to populate it with nitryfying bacteria. I plan to move the sponge filter to my new QT tank in order to prevent it from cycling.
So how long do you guys think it'll take for the sponge to be crawling with good bacteria? Days? Weeks?

 

[beth]

One week would be good. There are also other things you can do to kickstart a new QT:
100% water from the display [if the water is good quality]
a couple of cups of substrate from the display goes in QT
Any other filter media that you may use in the QT, also can go into the display for seeding
If it is an emergency and must get the QT up and going quickly, you can always "sacrifice" a piece or 2 of LR to the QT. However, if you medicate the QT with that LR in it, then the rock can never be returned to the display.

 

[migston]

Ok great. No it's not an emergency. Just your typical new hobbyist wanting to add new fish. I'll hold off a week then and I do plan to use 100% of main display water. Thanks!

 

[beth]

I'm not going to say that a week will be enough. Ideally you will set this up as we have discussed, then you start adding fish food to add fuel to the seeding process, test to see if you get a cycle, etc. Hopefully you will have more than a sponge filter going. What about PHs?
One fish at a time in the QT.
Glad to see a new hobbyist get going right from the get-go with QTing!

 

[migston]

Oh, the sponge filter is only to seed the bio filtration. I have a powerhead and an ammonia alert badge since I'll be doing a lot of water changes as well. Would you advise getting another filter like a bio wheel? I'd like to avoid adding any sand or LR since I read that it may absorb some of the medications plus they'll be unusable afterwards. I have some PVC fittings for the fish to hide in.
So would a smarter plan be to let the sponge filter absorb bacteria in my display for a week and then put it in the QT and wait another week or two?
The fish I'm eyeing to add next are 3 chromis so wouldn't it be preferable to add them to QT at the same time?