Upgrading/swapping An Internal Filter

[Killi]

Hi, I'm wondering if someone could help me here.....I want to upgrade my filter so that its appropriate for the next tank size up from mine. Although I have the correct size filter currently in my tank I feel its just not powerful enough to do the business. The thing is though I'm not 100% sure how to go about it because my tank is fully cycled...so do I keep both filters running in the tank for a few weeks?? Bearing in mind I'm thinking of getting a smaller tank to put the current filter in so would like to keep the bacteria alive and the filter media in this filter. Also would it be a shock to the whole system, as in would the bacteria cope when I remove that filter from the tank???

I want to upgrade from a Fluval 1+ (upto 50L) to a Fluval 2+ (upto 100L). My tank is 37.5L
Some reasurance or advice would be excellent

 

[Miss Wiggle]

take the mature media from your existing filter, put it into the new filter, top it up with whatever new media you need to keep it full, doesn't matter if you have to cut sponges or anything like that to make them fit. hey presto new cycled filter. just keep an eye on your levels the day or two after incase you get a mini spike, should be ok but it's always worth checking.

 

[Killi]

Thanks for the advice...just one thing though, wouldn't I have to start afresh and completely cycle the the old filter again that way...
I won't be changing the filter for a couple of weeks yet, and I'm in no rush for the small tank so I suppose I could re-cycle the filter again. Just seemed like a bit of a waste is all
Anyway, thanks again

 

[Joviella]

When you want to set up your new tank......use some of the media from the new filter(the old stuff from your old filter) alongside new media. You can always"clone" tanks in this way,as long as the media has been in an established tank for a while.HTH.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Thanks for the advice...just one thing though, wouldn't I have to start afresh and completely cycle the the old filter again that way...
I won't be changing the filter for a couple of weeks yet, and I'm in no rush for the small tank so I suppose I could re-cycle the filter again. Just seemed like a bit of a waste is all
Anyway, thanks again

sorry are you wanting to keep both filters mature then?

if that's the case then just run them alongside each other in the existing tank for about 2 weeks