changing filter

[Catfish mad]

Hi! im going to change the filter in my tank and was just wondering how this should be done. Should i leave the remaining filter in with my new filter so that the tank does not have cycle again with the new filter (the tank has just completed the cycle)? if I should do this how long should I leave my old filter in before i can take it out? thanks for any help

 

[parker313]

Is there a reason you're changing the filter? You really don't have to worry about it. The best thing to do is just rinse the old filter out in a bucket of tank water as you're doing a water change. Rinsing in tap water will kill the beneficial bacteria. Generally, there's no need to change the filter unless it's so gunked up water flow has been reduced.

 

[canarsie11]

If u can run both filters together for couple of weeks do so

 

[Ed4567]

Why not just move the filter media from the old filter to the new filter?

 

[_]im]

I got a question. I have a new tank im setting up and i have 2 aquaclear mini's one on the new one and one on the old one.
NOW...i have had the sponge inthe old filter for 2 days now, is it safe to transfer it to the new tank i.e. should it have beneficial bacteria on it now?

Or could i take the carbon filter from the old tank and put it in the new one and put the new carbon filter into the old filter, would this be a better way of gettting benificial bacteria into the new tank??

Thanks! i know i probably just confused more then helped