Bacterial Transfer Question

[jackinfobo]

So I have two canister filters on my reef tank, and I am just starting up a 47 gallon column tank for seahorses. I would like to know if I can use my fluval G3 filter on my seahorse tank instead of my reef. My question is, could harmful bacteria transfer from a reef tank to the new seahorse tank? I am going to take apart the filter and clean it really well with freshwater first.

 

[wdt2000]

I doubt if would be a problem unless you have had active illness in your reef recently. Bacteria is every were so it is very hard to contain. The mysid we feed our seahorses are likely loaded in the stuff.

 

[namxas]

If your reef is in good order, I wouldn't even clean the media unless you need to clean the sponges, which should be done at least bi-weekly. The media in the filter is cycled and will help to kick start the cycle in your SH tank.

 

[rayjay]

The one thing you MAY encounter in not cleaning/sterilizing is pathogen transfer from other fish.
While many don't seem to experience this, I've personally had too many problems when either adding fish to the seahores, be it pipefish, other seahorses, or other fish. I've also had troubles transferring live rock from a reef to a seahorse tank.
Now, I sterilize everything and start fresh. It doesn't make my survival rates 100%, but at least I don't wipe out tanks of seahorses now.