Poss Filter

[stevek77]

Hi all, just need some advice just aqured a ufo 550 and about to set it up but a friend has just offered me a in use external filter matured over the last 2yrs if I put this in my new tank will the fresh water kill off all the bacteria in the filter? I can take some of his water to add to my tank if needed how would everyone go about setting it up will it be ready for fish or will it need to be cycled as a new tank set up?

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi,

By in use its attached to a tank and running or attached to a tank and running with fish in it?

If its come off a tank that is up and running with fish in it producing waste for the friendly bacteria in the filter to feed on the filter will already be cycled and you can add fish straight away.
If you don't add fish straight away the bacteria has no food source and start to shut down, so yopu would need to does house hold ammonia as per the suggestions in the beginers section under fishless cycle.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi all, just need some advice just aqured a ufo 550 and about to set it up but a friend has just offered me a in use external filter matured over the last 2yrs if I put this in my new tank will the fresh water kill off all the bacteria in the filter? I can take some of his water to add to my tank if needed how would everyone go about setting it up will it be ready for fish or will it need to be cycled as a new tank set up?

I'd still run it, no fish, using ammonia for a week.
keep an eye on your water stats.
if it acts like a cycled tank then, add fish.

never ever trust anything, until you have seen it for yourself!

 

[stevek77]

yes its currantly running in his tank with fish but he's giving it all up, so trying to get rid of his gear, he,s also got an internal in his tank which he will keep until he re-homes the fish, by the way its an aqua one 1200 external are they any good? he wants £30 for filter and decoration i,e bogwood and feature rocks

 

[Million]

Sound like a good deal

 

[raptorrex]

yes its currantly running in his tank with fish but he's giving it all up, so trying to get rid of his gear, he,s also got an internal in his tank which he will keep until he re-homes the fish, by the way its an aqua one 1200 external are they any good? he wants £30 for filter and decoration i,e bogwood and feature rocks

I think they are ok. and, providing its in good nick, a reasonable price with the extras.
however new bits are not cheap (though not really expensive, either. lol) so make sure everything is ok, before the buy.!
I think they sell for £60 (ish) new (though the MRRP is £130, ish)

 

[stevek77]

ok guys thanks, i also bought a fluval u3 before i got offered the external is it worth running that alongside or is that overkill?, bearing in mind u3 is new so no bacteria in there yet, and should i do the tank cycle or just fill the tank and add the fish?, not in any rush to get the fish in as tank not ready yet still need to sort out substrate and decor etc, i suppose i could do whats previously mentioned and add ammonia to keep the bacteria healthy? what do you all suggest is the best thing?

 

[raptorrex]

ok guys thanks, i also bought a fluval u3 before i got offered the external is it worth running that alongside or is that overkill?, bearing in mind u3 is new so no bacteria in there yet,

I see no reason it would do any harm.
though it would do little more than munch electricity.
the aqua one has great bio area and good mechanical filtration.
adding the fluval would only reduce, ultimately, the cannisters bio mass.
add to that the fact internals need vastly more maintenance, than cannisters.
there seems little point.

it is, however, a great way to seed a filter for a second tank!
I'd stuff it in a cupboard, till then.

 

[stevek77]

ok guys thanks, i also bought a fluval u3 before i got offered the external is it worth running that alongside or is that overkill?, bearing in mind u3 is new so no bacteria in there yet,

I see no reason it would do any harm.
though it would do little more than munch electricity.
the aqua one has great bio area and good mechanical filtration.
adding the fluval would only reduce, ultimately, the cannisters bio mass.
add to that the fact internals need vastly more maintenance, than cannisters.
there seems little point.

it is, however, a great way to seed a filter for a second tank!
I'd stuff it in a cupboard, till then.

many thanx i will do just that cheers again guys