Biological Filter Question

[gyillmard]

I have a 20 gal (Imp) tank and an eheim filter ( about 4 years old). I've started to wonder what to do when it packs in. I've thought about putting in a back up internal filter -like a fluval- to catch any ammonia/nitrate/nitrite spike but I dont see how I can mature a new eheim without poisoning my fish (I dont have room for a second tank). I wondered if I could put tank water and the old eheim's sponge pads and trays in a new filter before the old one goes down and so avoid having to go through a cycle with the new filter. I would be grateful for any advice.

 

[-SPB-]

Putting mature media in the new filter will help it along the way with cycling it. Putting water from the new tank won't really do much as most of the beneficial bacteria are harboured in the filter. So all you would be putting in is dirty water!!!

 

[Colin_T]

A 4yo Eheim shouldn't pack it in. You should get 10 years + out of them. I had a Fluval for 20 years and only replaced the impellor in it once. It ran and ran and kept running. Eheims are the same. Keep the impellor and housing clean and make sure there is water moving through them always and they should last almost forever.
If you want to add a second filter then have it running simultaneously with the Eheim. Over a month or so it will develop the beneficial bacteria that helps keep the water clean. You won't get an ammonia or nitrite rise during this process because you current filter will be keeping the water clean.

 

[gyillmard]

I have a 20 gal (Imp) tank and an eheim filter ( about 4 years old). I've started to wonder what to do when it packs in. I've thought about putting in a back up internal filter -like a fluval- to catch any ammonia/nitrate/nitrite spike but I dont see how I can mature a new eheim without poisoning my fish (I dont have room for a second tank). I wondered if I could put tank water and the old eheim's sponge pads and trays in a new filter before the old one goes down and so avoid having to go through a cycle with the new filter. I would be grateful for any advice.

thans for the advice gyillmard

Putting mature media in the new filter will help it along the way with cycling it. Putting water from the new tank won't really do much as most of the beneficial bacteria are harboured in the filter. So all you would be putting in is dirty water!!!

I have a 20 gal (Imp) tank and an eheim filter ( about 4 years old). I've started to wonder what to do when it packs in. I've thought about putting in a back up internal filter -like a fluval- to catch any ammonia/nitrate/nitrite spike but I dont see how I can mature a new eheim without poisoning my fish (I dont have room for a second tank). I wondered if I could put tank water and the old eheim's sponge pads and trays in a new filter before the old one goes down and so avoid having to go through a cycle with the new filter. I would be grateful for any advice.

thans for the advice gyillmard

Putting mature media in the new filter will help it along the way with cycling it. Putting water from the new tank won't really do much as most of the beneficial bacteria are harboured in the filter. So all you would be putting in is dirty water!!!

Putting mature media in the new filter will help it along the way with cycling it. Putting water from the new tank won't really do much as most of the beneficial bacteria are harboured in the filter. So all you would be putting in is dirty water!!!

thanks for the help gyillmard