Can I Just Swap Out My Filter At Anytime?

[TropiFish]

Hey all, bought a 20 gallon aquarium (all in one kit) so everything needed to get started was included. Only problem is like most all in one kits, the equipment is usually low end. So i decided to upgrade what i thought would be the most important, the filter. I bought a marineland penguin 150 e/ bio wheel which ive been told works very well in that it keeps the good bacteria in and simply filters the rest.

My question is this: Since i didnt buy the marineland filter till after I started the fishless cycle (3 days now) can i just swap the two and continue cycling or will it start the cycling process over and require me to add more water conditioner?

 

[KittyKat]

You cycle the filter media specifically, not the water or whatnot. So if you move all of the media from the old filter into the new one, then yes, in theory there should be no break in the cycle.

In practice, is the Penguin a wet/dry filter or a standard wet filter? If it is the first one, then things will be more complicated.

 

[TropiFish]

I believe its a standard wet filter. basically since i got the current one up and running i was just gonna keep that in with the fish i plan on getting and when the filter needs changing, swap out the filter entirely. would that be ok? and how long should a 20 gallon tank cycle for?

 

[KittyKat]

I believe its a standard wet filter. basically since i got the current one up and running i was just gonna keep that in with the fish i plan on getting and when the filter needs changing, swap out the filter entirely. would that be ok? and how long should a 20 gallon tank cycle for?

Filter needs changing? Elaborate..

Most filters take 4-6 weeks fish-less, but it is possible to speed this up with addition of mature media, maybe some cycle aids too (although can't advise you on these)..

 

[TropiFish]

I believe its a standard wet filter. basically since i got the current one up and running i was just gonna keep that in with the fish i plan on getting and when the filter needs changing, swap out the filter entirely. would that be ok? and how long should a 20 gallon tank cycle for?

Filter needs changing? Elaborate..

Most filters take 4-6 weeks fish-less, but it is possible to speed this up with addition of mature media, maybe some cycle aids too (although can't advise you on these)..

wow i guess i have a lot to learn. I just figured that once it came time to change the pad/filter/cartridge in my current filtration system that i would just replace that entire filtration system (quietflow power fltration) with the new one i bought (marineland penguin 150)

 

[KittyKat]

wow i guess i have a lot to learn. I just figured that once it came time to change the pad/filter/cartridge in my current filtration system that i would just replace that entire filtration system (quietflow power fltration) with the new one i bought (marineland penguin 150)

Filters work in this way: the bacteria you are trying to grow during a cycle? They live on the sponges and other media inside the filter. If the sponges need cleaning, you should drain some tank water (which is, of course, dechlorinated) and gently rinse the media in that, then return it to the filter. Most media never needs actual replacing. Tap water will kill the bacteria. Replacing the sponges will remove the bacteria.

Carbon should only be used in special circumstances, such as for removing medication. For every day purposes, use more sponges or bio media.

 

[TropiFish]

wow i guess i have a lot to learn. I just figured that once it came time to change the pad/filter/cartridge in my current filtration system that i would just replace that entire filtration system (quietflow power fltration) with the new one i bought (marineland penguin 150)

Filters work in this way: the bacteria you are trying to grow during a cycle? They live on the sponges and other media inside the filter. If the sponges need cleaning, you should drain some tank water (which is, of course, dechlorinated) and gently rinse the media in that, then return it to the filter. Most media never needs actual replacing. Tap water will kill the bacteria. Replacing the sponges will remove the bacteria.

Carbon should only be used in special circumstances, such as for removing medication. For every day purposes, use more sponges or bio media.

ok kat thanks for your help!

 

[waterdrop]

Part of the reason that hard ceramics and tough sponges are among the most highly rated "biomedia" is that sometimes they will last many decades. The sponges -will- eventually start to get some rips and at that point you use scissors and remove maybe a third of a sponge at a time and replace it with a piece of new sponge.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ace61502]

Carbon should only be used in special circumstances, such as for removing medication. For every day purposes, use more sponges or bio media.

So you are saying I'm wasting money replacing the carbon filter on my Penguin BioWheel filters when they start getting clogged? I could just take it out? What filters out the solid crud then? Do they make filters that don't have carbon in them? Please educate me on this.

 

[KittyKat]

Carbon should only be used in special circumstances, such as for removing medication. For every day purposes, use more sponges or bio media.

So you are saying I'm wasting money replacing the carbon filter on my Penguin BioWheel filters when they start getting clogged?

On an every day basis, basically.. yes. Carbon is still very useful for special occasions, but day-to-day

I could just take it out? What filters out the solid crud then?

The BIO-Wheel is a special case because the bio media (the wheel) is non-replaceable and the only mechanical filtration is a pouch of carbon.

So, yes, you can remove it, but you don't have any mechanical filtration then to take out the crud. Another option would be to wash it: as it is not part of the bio filtration, you should even be able to wash it under the tap. A third option would be to replace it with any other (cheaper?) sponge which will fit and just use that as the mechanical filtration. If you can manage to clean the mechanical filtration in only tank water, that will increase the amount of bacteria your filter holds after using the same sponge for 4-6 weeks.

Do they make filters that don't have carbon in them? Please educate me on this.

Most internal filters do not contain carbon, they may contain a carbon "sponge" which will act as a normal sponge after the carbon is used up.
HOTB filters are very varied... for example yours has only the wheel, no traditional bio media, while mine takes only one sponge which is both the mechanical and bio filtration and a Fluval Edge has ceramic bio media, carbon and sponges!
External filters are usually just a set of baskets which you can fill with whatever you want.. by default, they can come with ceramic media, sponges and even bags of carbon. I generally use them only with ceramic (bio) media in the baskets, sponge pre-filter (to remove the large crud at the start) and filter wool polishing filter (to remove all remaining crud at the end).

Another thing, as far as I am aware (and don't quote me on this), the bacteria which live in a traditional wet filter are not the same bacteria which live in a wet/dry filter.. from what I have heard, one is anaerobic and the other aerobic.

 

[waterdrop]

"Another thing, as far as I am aware (and don't quote me on this), the bacteria which live in a traditional wet filter are not the same bacteria which live in a wet/dry filter.. from what I have heard, one is anaerobic and the other aerobic." (whoops, I wasn't supposed to quote you on this )

I think anytime you were able to find the bacteriologist, the time and the laboratory filled with the correct expensive equipment (which means never in our case ) you would probably find that not only would the Nitrosomonas or Nitrospira colony be actually a range of genetic variants but you would also find that it existed in the midst of various "warring factions" (if you will) of other species. It stands to reason that the colony mix on a biowheel would probably have a larger variation since it represents a significantly different environment. I'd be surprised though to find more than speculation.

On a different topic let me add that while the biowheel gains an advantage from the air exposure (the extra oxygen is indeed expected to be an advantage for the autotrophs) it does carry a small-percentage significant risk in that a power-outage while no one is at home can result in larger colony loss due to most of the colony drying out and dying.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ace61502]

Thanks, Kat! I think I will start washing them and using them as long as possible. I've already cut cost corners on them by getting the Aqua-Tech at Walmart instead of the "Marineland" brand.

Glad I found this place!