how long to run old filter with new one?

[epond83]

So i have a 40 gal that has been up and running for about 8 or 9 months, gravel bottom bunch of tetras and a few platies medium planted.

I had a HOB filter running and a power head with a big foam sponge on it (with DIY CO2 hooked up to it)

Anyway i relized that the HOB was for a 20 gal so i got and aquaclear 50 and have all three running now, i want to pull of the small HOB because it's kinda noisy. I added the proper sized one saterday, i was wondering how long i should wait to pull the small one off not to crash my system?

Thanks

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

I'm not sure on how HOB filter media works or fits, but just put all the media from the small HOB into the new HOB filter and you should be all good.

 

[Airborneguy]

I concur. The media from the smaller filter should be cycled, along with your gravel and decorations.

 

[ravichr]

I had the same situation. Had a 5-15 filter in a 14g tank. But wanted a more powerful one. So brought an AquaClear 30 and had it run alongside the old filter for 3 weeks. I've heard that 2 weeks is a good duration, but I let it run for 3. To be more safe, I removed the bio-pad from the old filter and just inserted into the new one. Hope it helps for you

 

[TabMorte]

That's what I did with my 29, just took a filter cartridge from my smaller filter and tossed it in the back of the penguin 200 to help cycle the tank.

 

[ravichr]

Since this was my first tank, I did both - running 2 filters; and then inserting the old filter media into the new filter - Just to be safe

 

[epond83]

Well the old one has the virtical plate with a sponge for bio media, the new one is set up horizontally with the sponge on bottom and biomedia on top (i really like how the aquaclears are set up) and has ceramic chunchs for media so i can't put any old media in the filter.

So sounds like two weeks for the old filter to run? also i treat the powerhead sponge as a biomedia so that should help since it won't be leaving

 

[TabMorte]

I'd think 2 weeks is more then enough.

 

[skratikans]

it depends...check your parameters...it will tell you where you are in the cycle...depending on your bacterial load

 

[epond83]

umm well i'm more then cycled i just don't want to pull out my old filter have a crash

 

[Lotus]

Two or three weeks is good. Three would be better, but if it's a well-established tank (more than a year old with same decorations/gravel, etc.) then two weeks should be enough.

 

[epond83]

ok cool thanks every one