Help With A Fluval 204 External Filter

[Dougie175]

I have just purchased a second hand fluval 204 external filter for my tank, its been used for marine fish and im gonna keep cichlids, what do i need to do with the filter before i use it? Is it ok just to clean it up and use it or do i need to replace all the internals?

 

[corrosive]

I'm not 100% sure but i would replace the filter pads? I could be totally wrong but thats what my instinct is telling me .

 

[Dougie175]

Thats what my instincts were telling me do i need to replace tha carbon and other stuff u think? Ive never used an external filter so im kinda working in the dark here

 

[Labyrinth]

If we're talking instinct here. If it were me I would get new foam, carbon etc. (They would have too much salt in them and should be replaced anyway, I would of thought), and I would give the whole thing a good clean with boiling water (including pipes etc).

But thats my instinct

Hope it helps

 

[raptorrex]

if we are going by instinct then, change the filter media, give the cannister a good clean, rinse the tubes and attachments, then off you go, it would seem that ciclids are well able to deal with small amounts of salt indeed may even benifit from it. seems the evolved from the marine enviroment.

"Secondary freshwater fishes are those that had marine ancestors at some point in past time, but which moved into freshwater in order to occupy various niches. Cichlids are an example of secondary freshwater fishes - their nearest relatives are the marine Damselfishes of the Family Pomacentridae, and it's highly likely that both Families shared a common (and marine) ancestor."
sorry this section was culled from this thread http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=155280

 

[Boids-n-more]

totaly ditch the carbon and add a different media in that slot for more bio filtration. other than that just replace the exsisting media and clean everything out with hot water , i personaly wouldn't boil the parts , some plastics and older plastics wouldn't handle that temp to well.