Got A New Filter For My 15G

This Old Spouse · Apr 5, 2011

Do I need to cycle my new filter for the usual 6-8 weeks, or by putting it in an established tank is it good to go immediately? Right now I've got it running in tandem with the old filter, which is from a 10g and didn't seem to be doing a good enough job, so I got a new one today with a bigger capacity.

Just when you start to think it's getting easier ... !

mattbleasby · Apr 5, 2011

Hey mate.

I would personally take the filter media from the old filter and put it in the new one if possible with the new one aswell. This way it can go straight in and happy days

This Old Spouse · Apr 6, 2011

Thanks! They're completely different filters, in size and design, but I might be able to fit the old in the new filter. Hmm.

tenohfive · Apr 6, 2011

If you can get away with running them in tandem that's what I'd do, then in a couple of months take the old one out. Or better still leave it in there in case of an emergency (such as an impulse tank buy

)

This Old Spouse · Apr 6, 2011

OMG, if you see me about to buy another tank on impulse, just shoot me!

Liamm · Apr 6, 2011

Be careful if you just take out your media from your old filter and put it in your new filter, that's what I did and I had a big nitrite and ammonia spike :angry:

This Old Spouse · Apr 6, 2011

I think I'm just going to keep running both filters in the new tank until the new filter has cycled. And then I think I'm going to put the old filter in a spare 10g tank I have and set that one up for the female guppies and crabs. The tank they're in now once housed a rat and the edges of the plastic top were chewed off so I kind of have it rigged to hold the canopy.

mattbleasby · Apr 6, 2011

Never thought of running both actually good idea!!! :good:

What crabs do you keep ?

This Old Spouse · Apr 6, 2011

mattbleasby said:
Never thought of running both actually good idea!!! What crabs do you keep ?

A pair of fiddlers. I've had the female, Dora the Explorer, for about 6 months, and just got Chester the Molester about 3 weeks ago. I'm really taken with them.