Filter Died

[ccg]

ok, this is what's happening.

On my 35 gallon tank I had my filter die on me. I have played around with it but not able to get it going again, not a big deal it needed to be replaced anyhow.

What I am worried about is I have a 35 gallon tank, using 2 external filers that are both rated for 40 gallon tanks, along with my undergravel filter. My concern is that this filter would have held a lot of benefical bacteria for in my tank, and it is no longer running. My other filter is going just fine, and I know it alone is enough to filter my tank, but now wont there be a change in the water or soemthing that may harm my fish or cause an outbreak of something?

I was not worried at first, but it just sort of clicked in and now I want to make sure everything is going to be ok. Everything appears to be fine, and I should be able to get a replacement this weekend at some point. Although it won't be the same filter so I wont beable to save any of the media from it.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I think you'll be ok, provided that your tank is not grossly overstocked or anything. It should be just fine. Maybe you can take some of the filter media out and put it in your other filter for now.

 

[ccg]

I don't believe the tank is overstocked, but it is right at its max thats for sure

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ccg

Perhaps it will help if you think of the situation this way:

Since the number of beneficial bacteria in your tank depends on the amount of wastes your fish produce to feed them, if your tank is fully cycled you have lots of them. They are in both filters, in the gravel, on the plants, glass and decorations.

If you remove one filter, you are removing a lot of them, but there are still plenty more and they will rapidly increase their numbers because (with some of them gone) they will have an increased food supply. As long as the remaining filter has enough surfaces to accommodate them, they will soon be back to their full numbers, just located in different places. If you do add another filter, that's where they will grow.

In the meanwhile, just feed lightly for a couple of weeks, monitor the chemicals and perhaps do an extra water change or two if indicated. All things considered, you should have no problems.

 

[ccg]

Thanks for the replies,

Doesn't sound like I should have to much of a problem. The filter that is still going is the bigger and better one anyhow. The tank is cycled and has been going for about 6-7 years now, but only the past 2 years I have been doing things correctly.

I will be extra careful during feeding time to make sure nothing gets uneaten and I will cut there portitions back a little. This is a tank full of cherry, golden, and tiger barbs. They would never miss any food, and they spend hours searching the gravel incase they have lol. They also don't seem to produce much waste for the amount they eat.

Thanks for all the adive, I appreciate it.

 

[rdd1952]

Is there enough room in the filter that is still workin to add any of the media from the broken one. That would move some of the bacteria colony over.

 

[ccg]

rdd1952, I have tried that but it seems to be restricting the water flow of the current filter so I pulled it out.

 

[rdd1952]

rdd1952, I have tried that but it seems to be restricting the water flow of the current filter so I pulled it out.

That's fine. As everyone else said, you should have enough bacteria left in the other filter to build more quickly. Just keep a close check on your parameters and do water changes if necessary.

 

[Snowbrumby]

I read somewhere that you could put the filter media from the broken filter in a stocking and float it in the tank for a while until the new filter kicks in, thus keeping the bacteria in the tank - would this work or am I wrong??