Changing My Aquarium Filter

[melave]

Hello,

Today I got my new Hob filter for my 57l tank. It's an Azoo Mignon 240 filter which I got delivered for £14. I put the new sponge from the new filter into my old intenral filter so that some bacteria and old material can get on to it.

I was wondering if anyone knows how long it would take for bacteria to etablish itself on to the sponge so I will know when to be able to take out the new sponge, put it in my new hob filter and then start using it instead of my old filter?

Does anyone know how long this takes?

thanks.

 

[kevin82]

is there any way you can ge the media from your old filter into your new one?

That would mean you could put it straight in

 

[melave]

I don't think so, is a small sponge that goes into the new filter so I would have to cut up one of the old sponges and use that, which I don't really want to do. I think I'm going to leave the new sponge over night and hopefully it'll be ok.

 

[Essjay]

It will take a lot longer than overnight for the new sponge to grow enough bacteria. If you can't put the old sponges in the new filter, then run both filters for at least four weeks before removing the old one.

Is the new sponge a lot smaller than the old ones? If it is, then no matter how long you leave it in the old filter, it will never have a big proportion of the bacteria. I hope there is more media than just the sponge in the new filter. Running both filters will make sure some bacteria grow in the rest of the new media too.

 

[melave]

It will take a lot longer than overnight for the new sponge to grow enough bacteria. If you can't put the old sponges in the new filter, then run both filters for at least four weeks before removing the old one.

Is the new sponge a lot smaller than the old ones? If it is, then no matter how long you leave it in the old filter, it will never have a big proportion of the bacteria. I hope there is more media than just the sponge in the new filter. Running both filters will make sure some bacteria grow in the rest of the new media too.

Thanks, I'll run both filters then. Your right the new filter only has a small sponge. I'll just have to be patient then. Cheers.

 

[melave]

Hello again,

Just wanted to say I got the Azoo filter and put some aquarium carbon in it inside a small sock and this has made my tank look a lot cleaner. The lack of current has also made my betta happier. He's now making bubble nests for the first time. I think the filter is really good so far.

 

[ReMz]

You can also cut a tiny portion of filter media off of your old filter and place it in the new filter with the new media as well to help establish it more quickly (while running both filters of course).

Be sure to remove that carbon once the water reaches your desired clarity. If you continue to leave it in, it will lose its effectiveness and start leaking all the stuff it removed back into the water. Activated carbon is made to be temporary.

Glad your betta is doing well. keep it up