Just Installed External Filter - Running Internal Along Side It For No

[fish+peace]

wow - if the internal sponges fit into the external then put them in and remove the internal - if you wanna run several filters go for it but its really not necesary

 

[CezzaXV]

While it's more than possible that some bacteria are living on the inside walls of your filter, you have to look at the total surface area inside your filter. If you've got half decent stuff inside it, the surface area of the actual filter itself should be miniscule in comparison.

Running the two side by side seems like a good idea, but over time the bacteria will spread themselves half and half between the two and when you remove the old one you'll be removing half the bacteria which will result in a minicycle.

Transfer all the media to the new filter. The bacteria reproduce so quickly you're really not going to suffer from losing maybe 1% of your bacteria (as opposed to the 50% you'll loose for the way you're doing it).

 

[deftuch]

put the filter in this machine. then put the rubble in a filter bag and put it in your new external filter

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5x6oySK2Jc

 

[UKSPEED]

While it's more than possible that some bacteria are living on the inside walls of your filter, you have to look at the total surface area inside your filter. If you've got half decent stuff inside it, the surface area of the actual filter itself should be miniscule in comparison.

Running the two side by side seems like a good idea, but over time the bacteria will spread themselves half and half between the two and when you remove the old one you'll be removing half the bacteria which will result in a minicycle.

Transfer all the media to the new filter. The bacteria reproduce so quickly you're really not going to suffer from losing maybe 1% of your bacteria (as opposed to the 50% you'll loose for the way you're doing it).

It probably is the most logical thing to do, but having done this before when swapping internals, the mini cycle that happened was not fun at all! I think I am going to leave them both running for a couple of weeks, then move the remaining media over, and then face the dreaded mini cycle if it happens!

put the filter in this machine. then put the rubble in a filter bag and put it in your new external filter

Haha I like it.

 

[UKSPEED]

So I have now removed the internal filter.

I had both running along side each other for a week, and then I transferred all the remaining media over to the external and left it running on its own. It's been going 2 days on its own now and no ammonia spike or mini cycle

Seems like this method worked better than removing immediately when I last swapped internal filters.