Changing From Internal To External Filter

[Darren_co]

Hi all,

I have decided to change my internal Filter, a Fluval 4+ to an external Fluval 205. The internal uses two foam pads which are mature. I am planning on taking one of the sponges from the internal and putting it into the external which uses four. (hope you are all still with me!).

I am planning on leaving both filters running in the same tank for now until the media matures again.

Now for the questions. Am I doing the right thing or can I take the internal filter out and put it into a second tank which is almost cycled?

Would I be correct in thinking a mini cycle at the very least will happen or could a full cycle start again.

I washed all the components for the new filter in water from the tank and handled the filter media as little as possible.

I am told the Fluval 205's are good filters but what do you guys think?

My tank is 180L and is a community tank.

All my water stats are fine.

Cheers

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

If you take replace one of the filter pads from the old and put it into the new, and run them both on the same tank...the new filter should be pretty much cycled right away, and over time the colony bioload capacity will balance out between the two filters (although if one filter has more favorable conditions like more space, water flow, oxygen etc that one might hold more bacteria). Bacterial colonies can double in about 24 hours, so I wouldn't be too concerned about causing a mini-cycle later on if you remove the internal filter after the external has been established. Of course keep an eye on water parameters, but it shouldn't cause serious issues.

 

[vinylman]

When I changed from the Fluval 4+ to the Tetratec EX700, I just put the two large sponges from the Fluval in one of the Tetratec's baskets and never had a problem, just cut down the food for a couple of days.