Switching Filters...

[StingrayKid]

In my 30 gallon, I have a internal canister filter, made by Fluval. It is designed for aquariums up to 40 gallons. The filter is really great but, its not getting the job done as well as I would like it to. The filter constantly get clogged up with floating particles that are larger than normal. You have to clean out the sponges inside a lot to keep them clean, and they're really not that clean when you're done with them. (And yes, I do clean them out in syphened tank water in a bucket) I know they're not supposed to be totally clean but, this one's a little stubborn with that kind of cleaning. I'm thinking of buying an expensive external canister filter to keep the tank nice and clean. My question is: how do I switch!? Should I hook up the new filter and run it with the old one for a while so bacteria can build? Any ideas?

 

[Tropjunky]

The main question is do u use andy boilogical media like ceramic rings or any thing like that.

 

[StingrayKid]

Nope.

 

[Pixie]

I would add the new one, but keep the old one going for a couple of weeks.

 

[CFC]

As said just run the two filters together for a while until the new external filter has built up a decent sized bacteria colony, should take about 3 weeks.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

get yourself a Aquaclear 200, i had 1 on my 32 gallon tank and it kept it crystal clear all by itself their cheaper then most filters too

 

[rvm]

I may get shouted at for this, but it worked for me. when you get the external filter. take out the media from your current filter, and put it in the baskets of your cannister along with the cannister's own media. That way, you can switch filters straight away. Like I said, it worked fine for me when I switched.

 

[CFC]

I may get shouted at for this, but it worked for me. when you get the external filter. take out the media from your current filter, and put it in the baskets of your cannister along with the cannister's own media. That way, you can switch filters straight away. Like I said, it worked fine for me when I switched.

That method works fine too if the filters are of a similar size but if there is a vast size difference then you may experience a small ammonia/nitrite spike.