Replacing A Filter, Advice Required

[Meds]

Dear All,

I'm new to the tropical fish hobby, i managed to aquire a tank a few months ago from work, as they were about to throw it out.

The tank is 36x18x12 (inches). The Filter that the tank came with was an Eheim and ever since i got it has been playing up. Falling apart in fact. I have been considering getting a new filter and intend to buy one this weekend, especially since the pressure that the filter is extracting the filtered water seems to be getting lower and lower.

Please dont laugh if this seems like a stupid question, but if i change my filter, does that mean that i will have to recycle my tank???

Its just that i finally seem to have sorted out the cycle after many losses.. (Sorry the guy in my local aqaurium said all i had to do was add declorinator).

I was told that all the bacteria reside in the filter. Also what happens if i change the foam or sponge inside the filter,

Please Help.

Thanks

Meds

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The thing about bacteria was true. Changing the foam removes most of the bacteria. You should cycle the tank again b/c even a new filter might act up. Plus, it never hurts to test b/c the fish are at risk during an electrical surge and buildup of ammonia.

 

[Aulonochromis]

Just run both filters together for a week or more. You might even want to seed the new filter by rubbing the media from your old filter on the new media, or better yet just put the established media in the new filter if possible. There is bacteria on every surface in the tank, glass, gravel, decor, etc. so it's not that big of a deal to replace a filter.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Meds and welcome to the forum

A tank with the dimensions of yours is known as a 30 gallon breeder tank.

If your tank is established, you will not have to worry about throwing it into a cycle because there is plenty of good bacteria in it, in addition to what is in the filter. The top 1/2" to 3/4" of your gravel contains enough bacteria to sustain the system while your filter is being broken in. Every surface of the aquarium is, in fact, coated with it.

If you replace your filter, I suggest buying one that is easy to maintain and keep clean. There are filters, such as the AquaClear, that can go for months with little more effort than simply rinsing the sponge out in some used tank water.

Keeping fish is an excellent hobby and once you have the basics down it can keep you interested and excited for the rest of your life. Just keep asking questions and learning. Believe me, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. In a little while, you will be helping other newbies get their tanks off to a good start!

 

[Meds]

Thanks Guys,

I've gone and bought a new filter, and i'm running it along sidew the old one.

I think the shop may have oversold me though, as i now have a fluval 4 plus. which i feel seems a little powerful for my tank..


Fish Breeding is alot a lot of fun though, i've been dropping the female guppies and the female platties into little miniture nursing tanks, and they jst keep dropping babies. problem now is that i'm getting to many fish

My only real problem is that i have a snail problem, might get a clown loach to sort it out though.

Thanks all.

meds

 

[Inchworm]

...Fish Breeding is alot a lot of fun though, i've been dropping the female guppies and the female platties into little miniture nursing tanks, and they jst keep dropping babies. problem now is that i'm getting to many fish

My only real problem is that i have a snail problem, might get a clown loach to sort it out though.

Hi Meds

I'm glad to learn you got a new filter. That's a big problem out of the way.

Now, are you sure you want to get a clown loach to deal with your snail problem? They tend to get rather large and like to be kept in a group. If you do not have a large tank, they will be a problem. Here's a link with some information about them:

http/www.users.bigpond.com/rjeb/clown.html

You might find that picking the snails out by hand is the best solution. Your lfs (local fish shop) probably carries a product which will kill them, but if you use it you are adding an unnecessary chemical to your tank and you will still have to pick them out or they will rot and pollute your tank. Actually, you are better off with them alive than dead in the water.