Changing Filter

[zola]

Hi,

I got a tank a week ago, doing a fish in cycle currently, but keeping well on top of it!

the tank came with a basic filter, which is noisy and not the best. I now have an aquaball which I am set to install tonight.

Should I take out the basic filter, rinse the pads in the tank water and then install the new filter and let it take everything in?

I have heard someone say before you should put the pads in the new filter, but I am not sure if they will even fit properly, or if its a wise thing to do.

any tips much appreciated.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, put the pads in the new filter. Just washing them in the tank won't do so much good as the bacteris do cling to the media quite strongly.

If you have to cut the pads up to get them in, that's fine.

 

[Tizer]

you can take a pair of scissors to the pads and chop them around, i wouldnt bother rincing them.

the idea is to try and seed the new filter with any beneficial bacteria you have already

thing is, you've only been going a week, so i would be tempted to just scrap it and start over, you've not really lost a lot of time.

 

[fluttermoth]

you can take a pair of scissors to the pads and chop them around, i wouldnt bother rincing them.

the idea is to try and seed the new filter with any beneficial bacteria you have already

thing is, you've only been going a week, so i would be tempted to just scrap it and start over, you've not really lost a lot of time.

It's a fish in cycle though; surely every bacterium is worth its weight in gold at this point?

 

[Tizer]

If the levels are kept at a good, non toxic level, an extra week on the cycle isnt going to make a big difference. With it being only 1 week into the cycle, i very much doubt much bacteria has established itself, if we were 3/4 weeks in then yeah, i might suggest something different.

Besides which, we dont know how many fish, we dont know if zola is dechlorinating the water, we dont know if they are temperature matching etc etc. Soooo many variables, keeping it simple is often safer.

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, yes; all good points there...

I'd still switch the media over if it was me, but I'm sure your right in that it probably won't make that much difference, if any.

 

[zola]

I am doing daily 50-90% changes, adding temperature matched de-chlorinated water, testing levels with the API kit, I'm on top of it, I think!

Since its only been going a week ill maybe just stick in the new filter and rinse the pads in the water?
If its simple enough to chop up the pads and add them into the new filter I could do that though... do the pads ever need replaced??


This term "MEDIA" - is that the bacteria stuck to the filter pads?

 

[fluttermoth]

The pads never need replacing; i've got sponges that are 20 years old and that have been moved from tank to tank, filter to filter

'Media' is the stuff the bacteria is growing on; it might be sponge, ceramic 'noodles' (tubes), plastic balls or some other thing that someone's thought of!

 

[zola]

Thanks for that

Ill see what the pads in the new filter are like, ideally id like one big pad, rather than chopping up lots of bits and having to wash those

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Thanks for that

Ill see what the pads in the new filter are like, ideally id like one big pad, rather than chopping up lots of bits and having to wash those

If you remember, i quoted that i had exactly the same filter as you did (the noisy grey one).
As the sponges (and the general shape of the filter) was rectangular, i found it wouldn't fit into the spherical shape of an Aquaball. So i simply took a pair of scissors and cut them up into 5 inch long strips and placed them in my Aquaball in a sort of 'jigsaw' shape, reminded me of Tetris on the Gameboy!
Terry.

 

[zola]

Thanks for that

Ill see what the pads in the new filter are like, ideally id like one big pad, rather than chopping up lots of bits and having to wash those

If you remember, i quoted that i had exactly the same filter as you did (the noisy grey one).
As the sponges (and the general shape of the filter) was rectangular, i found it wouldn't fit into the spherical shape of an Aquaball. So i simply took a pair of scissors and cut them up into 5 inch long strips and placed them in my Aquaball in a sort of 'jigsaw' shape, reminded me of Tetris on the Gameboy!
Terry.

Indeed mate, is that not a lot of extra work though when cleaning the filter though?

I will do a few water tests and see if anything has started yet on the nitrite side of things. If it hasnt I will maybe just install the new filter as it is to save the hastle.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Not in the slightest, Zola...

My 30L has been properly up and running now for about 4 months. In that time i have taken the filter apart on only 3 occasions, and one of those times was due to a complete emergency i suffered with cloudy water (lost a Cadinal Tetra, 75% water changes TWICE a day!).

Regards,
Terry.