External Filter

[steve_jones83]

Hi all

I am quite new to tropical fish. I have a Fluval 125 litre tank setup as a community tank (Nearly 2 years). I am using a fluval u3 filter at the moment. I have enjoyed the aquarium but not really got into it as much as I should. Recently I have really got into looking after my fish and am now realise I am hooked.

Now for the question.

I want to swap to a tetratec 1200 external filter. I was wondering how I go about adding it to the tank. I assume that it will need to run side-by-side with the existing filter for some time but was wondering if anyone can give me advice please. It would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[DrRob]

Would I be right in thinking that you're using the internal filter that comes with the tank?

If so you could take the media out of the internal, put it in the external and away you go. You'd have to take some of the media out of the external to fit it in. After a while you could then replace the old media with what you took out.

edit: and remember to keep an eye on the ammonia/nitrite levels for a little while afterwards just to watch out for any spikes.

 

[steve_jones83]

Yeah its the filter that comes with the tank. So I take the sponges out of that one, put them into the Ttetratec and run them together or just the external?

Sorry if I come across as stupid but I am new to all this

 

[white9870]

I'd take the 2 sponges on either end of the filter out and put them in, and also in the middle part of the filter take the, the like ceramic things u get with it, put them in the new filter too, I also have a fluval u3.

 

[DrRob]

Yeah its the filter that comes with the tank. So I take the sponges out of that one, put them into the Ttetratec and run them together or just the external?

Aye, as white9870 said, those bits, all into the external

Sorry if I come across as stupid but I am new to all this

No worries. There's none so stupid as those that don't ask, and that question didn't even sound stupid, just my bad explanation not being clear enough.

 

[steve_jones83]

Nice one both, many thanks.

Thought i would have to run the 2 filters together, seems simple knowing now that I could just swap the media