new external filter

[basia]

I have just bought a fluval external filter for my tank. How long should I run the internal filter with it once I have set it up?

 

[jimboliana]

I would say a least a couple of weeks to get the bacteria growing in your external b4 you turn off the internal

 

[yvez9]

depending what kind of external filter you have, you could also take the media from that filter and put it in the bottom (or any other) basket of your fluval.

that would make the new filter cycled to the same extent as your previous, so no worries about that!

 

[basia]

Its the Fluval 204 external filter I have just bought. It has sponges on the side and 3 baskets with carbon and some rings supplied.
My current internal filter has two sponges in it. So if I put those sponges in one of the bottom baskets can I remove the old filter? That would be cool because it is noisy.

 

[Iron Man]

Yes, as long as you keep the old filter media (sponges in your case I guess) you won't have a problem. In fact that would be best to just put it in the new filter.