new filter

[moneywastedonfish]

Hi all been awhile since my last post,
since then ive had one filter blow due to blackouts and have had to rely on my severly under powered hosp tank filter, and many water changes.

Just got a new filter, should i keep both going for a while or just leave the new one running with the other in the tank or what, the sponge is a totally different size so cannot be changed.

Also does anyone use the spray bar on some filters, any problems or advantages, ithink they look pretty cool.

 

[CFC]

Leave both filters running for at least two weeks to allow the new filter to build up a good sized colony of bacteria, removing the older filter too early will cause the tank to go into a cycle.
I use spray bars on my external filters, the benefits are that the bar spreads the returned water over a greater surface area which promotes faster gas exchange but they can also be used to do the opposite for planted tanks by turning the direction of the spray downwards to prevent co2 from being lost from the tank too quickly.

 

[moneywastedonfish]

cheers cfc,
do you think turning the smaller pump off at night would be a bad idea?

My small filter sort of wistles and my girlfriend hates it

 

[CFC]

A filter should never be switched off except for when doing tank maintainance, the bacteria colonies start to die off rapidly once they are deprived of oxygen and their food source.