Seeding A New Filter

[stevek77]

as in the title really, how do you go about it?, i have a smallish external and want to upgrade to a larger one i know i could keep the two running side by side but for how long?, after all thats double the work when you come to clean it...... opinions pls

 

[minnnt]

Use both. Clean one every month. Done. Hardly hard work!

 

[pirate monkey]

You could just put your old media in the new filter, towards the bottom is best, then fill up the rest with new media.

That's what I'd do. If not I'd run them consecutively for a month or 2. No cleaning needs to be done in that time, perhaps rinsing the polishing pad out but no more, unless you see a significant drop in flow.

Hope that helps

 

[ian]

agree, why not just put the media from the old one in your new one. Job done.

 

[KittyKat]

[…] keep the two running side by side but for how long?

6+ weeks is ideal, as it would take a similar amount of time as a cycle, but as the others said, moving all old media into the new filter is a better option.

 

[minnnt]

KK, I can remember you disagreeing with me when I advised that as when it came to removing the old filter you was removing x amount of cycled media.

Use both and make use of the extra filtration.

 

[KittyKat]

KK, I can remember you disagreeing with me when I advised that as when it came to removing the old filter you was removing x amount of cycled media.

Well, yes, if one starts with two filters, then removes one, one is left with fewer bacteria for a period of time. That's why I'm saying keep all the bacteria in one filter, so that the OP does not loose any when they remove the old filter.

Keeping both filters running long term does provide more surface space for bacteria, but it also uses up more electricity, provides more flow and the extra surface area might actually not be needed if the stocking is right and each of the filters is big enough.

 

[pirate monkey]

Keeping both filters running long term does provide more surface space for bacteria, but it also uses up more electricity, provides more flow and the extra surface area might actually not be needed if the stocking is right and each of the filters is big enough.

+1

 

[stevek77]

ok well i got a aqua one aquis 500 fully matured its says recommended 120ltrs, im running it on a ufo 550 (apparantly 76ltrs since found out by doing it myself its actually 105ltrs!!),so realised filter may struggle but as its not the biggest tank and dont really want 2 externals running as i think that would cause alot of tank water disturbance not to mention pipes everywhere, or does everyone think the filter will cope?