changing filter brands - HELP!

[Dare On]

I have been running a 90 gallon tank for 5 years with 2 aquaclear 300's. They are a little too noisy for my liking so I have finally upgraded to an EHEIM professional 2026. Can I just fill the EHEIM with the proper filter media and install it and then get rid of the 2 aquaclear's right away or would it be better to keep the 2 aquaclears running for awhile until the EHEIM gets the proper bacteria built up in it? If it is better to keep the 2 aquaclears running as well how long do I need to keep them running before it is safe to remove them and only have the super-quiet EHEIM running? I have an 18 inch clown knife in the tank.

Thanks for any help in this matter.

 

[Tolak]

You should run both the 2026 & the 2 ac300's together for a while. If you take the sponge from one or both of the ac's & squeeze some of the nice bacterial "goop" from them into the 2026 media it will help it to cycle in faster.

I would do this, and wait 2 weeks, then pull the 2 ac's & do daily water tests for ammo & nitrites. Leave the ac media in the tank after you pull them, in case levels do increase. If the levels increase the ac300 media still has live bacteria in it to bring down the levels.

I run mostly ac & eheim filters, and by transfering the bacteria by squeezing the media into a new filter, I have been able to fishless cycle tanks in 2 weeks or less.

Tolak

 

[drobbins27]

I would run all3 for good, thatd be a clean tank! Even tho that kinda defeats the purpose