I can't hold off much longer - it is time to replace one of the two foam filter pads in my Fluval 2-Plus Filter. The last time I did this, I replaced a whole pad and may have inadvertently caused an ammonia/nitrite spike, leading to a number of fish deaths (although not all fish appeared to be affected, it is still probable and I'm taking no chances this time around). The other pad is now getting to a point where I am just not comfortable letting it deteriorate any longer, but I don't wish to replace the whole pad.
I am armed with the likes of Seachem Prime to detoxify Ammonia (and Nitrites and Nitrates in an emergency), and do regular water tests with a Nutrafin test kit for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and pH and an API test kit for Ammonia (not test sticks but with water samples mixed with chemicals in the test tubes). I could just go ahead and replace the whole pad, but I don't consider it wise. I was considering replacing 1/2 or even 1/3, cutting up part of the old pad and replacing with part of a new pad. Given that the old pad is thinner than it was, I even considered combining old and new without completely replacing (again, only 1/2 or 1/3 at a time combined) so as to avoid losing the beneficial bacteria from the pad I'm replacing - that part is inevitable, but if I can keep it while colonising the newer pad, that's surely better.
So, advice? Will combining pads cause water filtration issues, especially in terms of water flow? I've observe that the top part of the filter pad when the filter housing is installed in the tank gathers the most muck, and I try to rotate the pad once a week or so in order that both ends do their job and one isn't used all of the time, so the part of the new pad could be placed towards the bottom where it won't catch so much muck while the bacterial colonies are establishing themselves. I know that regardless of what I do, additional water changes will be necessary (45-50 litre tank, so 8-10 litres/20-25%), and the Seachem Prime may also come in handy, but if I can limit the loss of beneficial bacteria in the manners I've outlined above without causing serious problems in other ways, then I'm all for it.
I am armed with the likes of Seachem Prime to detoxify Ammonia (and Nitrites and Nitrates in an emergency), and do regular water tests with a Nutrafin test kit for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and pH and an API test kit for Ammonia (not test sticks but with water samples mixed with chemicals in the test tubes). I could just go ahead and replace the whole pad, but I don't consider it wise. I was considering replacing 1/2 or even 1/3, cutting up part of the old pad and replacing with part of a new pad. Given that the old pad is thinner than it was, I even considered combining old and new without completely replacing (again, only 1/2 or 1/3 at a time combined) so as to avoid losing the beneficial bacteria from the pad I'm replacing - that part is inevitable, but if I can keep it while colonising the newer pad, that's surely better.
So, advice? Will combining pads cause water filtration issues, especially in terms of water flow? I've observe that the top part of the filter pad when the filter housing is installed in the tank gathers the most muck, and I try to rotate the pad once a week or so in order that both ends do their job and one isn't used all of the time, so the part of the new pad could be placed towards the bottom where it won't catch so much muck while the bacterial colonies are establishing themselves. I know that regardless of what I do, additional water changes will be necessary (45-50 litre tank, so 8-10 litres/20-25%), and the Seachem Prime may also come in handy, but if I can limit the loss of beneficial bacteria in the manners I've outlined above without causing serious problems in other ways, then I'm all for it.
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