New tank filter

[CriCri31]

Hi Guys,
My aquarium filter has broken since last night , so obviously he lost all the beneficial bacteria inside the media. I will get a new one today, Is that okay to add the new one (Eheim filter with sponge cartridge) , without having the chance to add the old media to the new one. tank 10 gallon, cycled with fishes in. I have fluval biological enhancer to add to the new filter. I would welcome any suggestions . Thank you

 

[Essjay]

If the filter only broke last night, as long as the media is still damp the bacteria will still be alive. If it's in the bin, get it out and put it in a bit of tank water in a tub as soon as you've read this. The filter bacteria will only die quickly if the media is totally dry; they can live a long time in even just damp media. It is worth using the old media for the sake of the fish.
You can put all the old media inside the new filter, just leave out a bit of new media to make room. You don't say what form the old media is but if it's sponge you can cut it up to fit. If it's carbon cartridges, cut the bag off the frame, throw away the carbon and put the bag in the new filter.
If there are live plants in the tank, they will also help - last year I forgot to turn the filter back on and only noticed 24 hours later. There was no ammonia or nitrite in the water, the bacteria elsewhere in the tank and the live plants kept them at zero.

You can use a bottled bacteria but Tetra Safe Start rather then Fluval.

Check the ammonia and nitrite in the tank now, and for several days after getting the new filter. There may have been a build up since the old filter broke as there would be no water flowing through it to feed the bacteria. Do a water change every time you see a reading for ammonia or nitrite higher than zero.



Out of idle curiosity, what type is the new filter? I have used various Eheims over the years.

 

[CriCri31]

It's Eheim pickup 60

 

[CriCri31]

If the filter only broke last night, as long as the media is still damp the bacteria will still be alive. If it's in the bin, get it out and put it in a bit of tank water in a tub as soon as you've read this. The filter bacteria will only die quickly if the media is totally dry; they can live a long time in even just damp media. It is worth using the old media for the sake of the fish.
You can put all the old media inside the new filter, just leave out a bit of new media to make room. You don't say what form the old media is but if it's sponge you can cut it up to fit. If it's carbon cartridges, cut the bag off the frame, throw away the carbon and put the bag in the new filter.
If there are live plants in the tank, they will also help - last year I forgot to turn the filter back on and only noticed 24 hours later. There was no ammonia or nitrite in the water, the bacteria elsewhere in the tank and the live plants kept them at zero.

You can use a bottled bacteria but Tetra Safe Start rather then Fluval.

Check the ammonia and nitrite in the tank now, and for several days after getting the new filter. There may have been a build up since the old filter broke as there would be no water flowing through it to feed the bacteria. Do a water change every time you see a reading for ammonia or nitrite higher than zero.



Out of idle curiosity, what type is the new filter? I have used various Eheims over the years.

 

[CriCri31]

new filter Eheim pick up 60, I have Anubias different types, java Fern in the tank , I will do exactly what you say, hope there will be a room in this kind of filter to stick the old cartridge bag into it, after dumping out all the carbon. Also I have driftwood, 2 big pieces in the tank

 

[Essjay]

If the old media was cartidges, you should be able to squeeze the bag part in - place it first in the direction of water flow. If it won't fit, cut a layer off the sponge, across the water flow. If you do it along the water flow there could be a gap for the water to get through rather than go through the sponge. After a couple of months you can throw away the cartridge bag, and if you cut some sponge off, put that back in at the same time.

The plants will help, but keep an eye on the water quality to be certain.

 

[CriCri31]

If the old media was cartidges, you should be able to squeeze the bag part in - place it first in the direction of water flow. If it won't fit, cut a layer off the sponge, across the water flow. If you do it along the water flow there could be a gap for the water to get through rather than go through the sponge. After a couple of months you can throw away the cartridge bag, and if you cut some sponge off, put that back in at the same time.

The plants will help, but keep an eye on the water quality to be certain.

 

[CriCri31]

I will do it exactly as what you said. Thanks a lot for your support . great site guys , helping people with any issue.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Anubias and java fern grow too slowly to help much with ammonia.
If your tank is established (running cycled 6 months or more), you probably have enough BB in the substrate and decor to get by just fine.
Ever wonder how with cartridge filters that the cartridge can be replaced with no harm - it's because compared to the rest of the tank, they only hold a little BB!! (It's marketing hype that wants us to think that BB lives only in filters and expensive commercial bio-medias....and I believe that good old sponge material is the very best BB platform - better than ceramics, plastics, and rocks.)
Still, saving the old media is always a good. safe measure, especially if it's a relatively new setup and the tank has yet to "season". It can be removed from a 'dead' filter and placed right in the tank until a new filter is installed. Something to also remember if/when there's a power failure.

Food for thought: Consider fast growing floating plants that convert pollution into plant tissue that's eventually trimmed and removed. Makes for [even] higher water quality.

 

[Essjay]

You may find you have a mini cycle, but it should be over quicker than cycling from scratch. using Tetra Safe Start will also help.

 

[CriCri31]

You may find you have a mini cycle, but it should be over quicker than cycling from scratch. using Tetra Safe Start will also help.

 

[CriCri31]

yes you are absolutely right, just forgot to tell you, I have 2 big salvinia auriculate surface plants in my tank, they grow really quick and well

 

[CriCri31]

You may find you have a mini cycle, but it should be over quicker than cycling from scratch. using Tetra Safe Start will also help.

 

[CriCri31]

thank you

 

[CriCri31]

Anubias and java fern grow too slowly to help much with ammonia.
If your tank is established (running cycled 6 months or more), you probably have enough BB in the substrate and decor to get by just fine.
Ever wonder how with cartridge filters that the cartridge can be replaced with no harm - it's because compared to the rest of the tank, they only hold a little BB!! (It's marketing hype that wants us to think that BB lives only in filters and expensive commercial bio-medias....and I believe that good old sponge material is the very best BB platform - better than ceramics, plastics, and rocks.)
Still, saving the old media is always a good. safe measure, especially if it's a relatively new setup and the tank has yet to "season". It can be removed from a 'dead' filter and placed right in the tank until a new filter is installed. Something to also remember if/when there's a power failure.

Food for thought: Consider fast growing floating plants that convert pollution into plant tissue that's eventually trimmed and removed. Makes for [even] higher water quality.