Switching From Undergravel To Internal Filter

[Biulu]

I have been having my tank up and running for over 6 months now, completely stocked and with plants. As I am having trouble keeping my plants well, I would like to change the undergravel for an internal filter.

Are there any precautions I should take? Do I need to cycle the tank again, or would using large part of the same water and same decorations and plants do the trick?

Any suggestions on filter types? I am based in Mexico, and they have been advising me to take a filter like the one in this link: http/articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx/MLM-14824567-_JM.

Thanks for the help.

 

[smmetz]

I've never had a UG filter, but I guess you'll need to take everything out of the tank, clean out the gravel, take the grids out from under the gravel, then put everything back in the tank. I imagine you will have some sort of cycle again.

Maybe you should run the new internal filter and the UG filter in your tank for 2-3 weeks to get some bacteria started in the new filter. Then, after that, take out the UG filter.

Using the same water won't help with the cycle, but having the same decorations and plants might help very slightly. I think running both filters for a while is the best bet though. Also, I would feed the fish less for a few days after you take out the UG - so that there is less waste (amonia) for the internal filter to deal with at first.

 

[for_my_fish]

Have you thought of switchin to an external filter rather than internal?

 

[Biulu]

Have you thought of switchin to an external filter rather than internal?

Not really, as I don't like hanging things outside my tank. What would the advantage be? Fluvial filters are hardly available here, and terribly expensive, so out of the question for me

 

[for_my_fish]

In general externals don't take up tank space.
they hold more filter media
theres more options for mixing filter media.
they are usually much, much easier to maintain.

If you have a tank stand, the filter should just sit in that. Not looked at pricing for a while, but didnt think there was a great difference.

 

[smmetz]

Canister filters are quite a bit more money than internal filters, unfortunatly. Internal filters, are very cheap, especially if then are powered by an air stone - then they need no motor, just an air pump which many people have already anyway. I do agree though that a canister filter is better.

I have the kind of external filter that hangs on the back of my tank, but Biuli said he doesn't like them. They prevent a tank from being right up against a wall, and some people don't like looking at them I guess.

 

[gpgscott]

The suggestion of installing and running the new internal filter is a good one. My first tank had ugf, state of the art 25 years ago, and it worked pretty good except you have to take it all down once year. The filter you are considering is not an efficient one, you should rethink a cannister due to the efficiency and ease of maintenence. I don't get the problem with being in Mexico is there no UPS... in Mexico. You haven't said what type of substrate you have, probably gravel with a ugf, if you make this change you might want to consider sand substrate. On the re cycle issue, in my opinion yes you will have at lest a mini cycle, you haven't said how many fish but you might consider a temp tank with the old water to house them until the stats on the new setup stabilize. You are making a major change, don't do anything too quick. Scott

 

[Biulu]

The suggestion of installing and running the new internal filter is a good one. My first tank had ugf, state of the art 25 years ago, and it worked pretty good except you have to take it all down once year. The filter you are considering is not an efficient one, you should rethink a cannister due to the efficiency and ease of maintenence. I don't get the problem with being in Mexico is there no UPS... in Mexico. You haven't said what type of substrate you have, probably gravel with a ugf, if you make this change you might want to consider sand substrate. On the re cycle issue, in my opinion yes you will have at lest a mini cycle, you haven't said how many fish but you might consider a temp tank with the old water to house them until the stats on the new setup stabilize. You are making a major change, don't do anything too quick. Scott

Thanks guys! I will definitively then let the new filter work alongside the undergravel for a few weeks before making the change. I have been told that the canister filters would cost me at least 200 USD, but these are only guesses as I cannot geth them here. I would have to go to Mexico city for that. Others have estimated them at 600 USD (almost a 1 month salary here) and internal ones only cost around 60 USD, so that is a big difference.

Scott, I will definitively change my substrate, as my main reason for the change are my live plants. They are not thriving well currently. I have been recommended the Azoo dark substrate which provides nutrients at the same time, but again this is a very expensive option here. Do you have any other suggestions of what I might add? Maybe some laterite around the plants, and then cover with the sand? I am not going to have any digging fish in my tank.

 

[gpgscott]

Sorry, I am not a live plant man in indoor stuff, I do have an 8000 gal lined pond with lillies, and all sorts of other outside stuff and koi and goldfish, but on the inside I'm an artificial guy mainly because I like the kind of fish that eat things. Let me go back to the filter one more time. Marineland makes a filter called a H.O.T. Magnum, (stands for hang on tank). It is a compact cannister that has a powerful motor and cartrides which are reusable you just soak them in a chlorine solution once a month. You buy two and alternate. In the U.S. it costs about $80.00. It comes with a biowheel which is a very good feature. Marineland.com. You should consider it. Good Luck. Scott

 

[Biulu]

Marineland makes a filter called a H.O.T. Magnum, (stands for hang on tank). It is a compact cannister that has a powerful motor and cartrides which are reusable you just soak them in a chlorine solution once a month. You buy two and alternate. In the U.S. it costs about $80.00. It comes with a biowheel which is a very good feature. Marineland.com. You should consider it. Good Luck. Scott

Looks good. I will ask around whether this brand or a similar filter is available here. Thanks a lot!