QT tank question

I plan to use a small hang on bio wheel power filter for my QT tank. Should I just put the clean cartridges in my sump to populate them with beneficial bacteria? How many days before I get the new fish will it take to get a good amount of bacteria on the media? Would 3 or 4 days in the sump work?

 

more like 2 weeks

 

A QT for fish shouldn't rely on bacteria to help maintain water quality because whatever meds you plan on using will likely kill off any bacteria present, bad or good. A QT for corals only maybe set up differently but most folks don't have the luxury of setting up 2 QTs, let alone one. A basic QT should only have mechanical filtration and coupled with frequent water changes to keep water quality high to reduce stress on the fish. Other things like a UV or skimmer can be added but they may have to be turned off depending on the type of meds used.