New Filter Integration

[FishyPastor]

I have a 55 gallon which has been up and running about two months now. It has been well cycled through. I have to replace my filter since it broke and the new filter will not have the biological elements in it. Will this cause any negative efffects to the tank. I have african cichlids in the tank any thoughts?

[jackson17]

How long ago did the old one break? Did you throw it away already? Or do you still have it? If you still have it, and it hasn't been dry for over 12 hours, take the media inside the filter, and put that media in the new filter.

[FishyPastor]

I still have th filter and it is currently working in the tank. I can take the sponge out of this one and put into the other one. Or I can have both filters going at the same time?

[jackson17]

Wait, so the old one is running still. What broke on the filter then? And yes you can leave both of them on. As long as the water is flowing through the filter and hitting the sponges and flowing normal, no need to replace the filter.

[jaysee]

You can run both filters, but you'll still want to put some of the old media in the new filter,

[FishyPastor]

Its an older filter and the flow is really bad, thats why I want to replace it.

[jackson17]

Try to rinse the media in TANK WATER . THere might just be so much bacteria/gunk on it its slowing it down.

What kind of filter is it?

[FishyPastor]

The filter is a Tetra whisper 60 I clean the sponge once a month and still low flow. I also have a undergravel filter in it and the new filter is a Aqua Clear 70.:goldfish:

[jackson17]

Take the media and put it in the aqua clear, they are much better. As for undergravel filter, they are pretty useless, they trap the bad stuff down there. If you can, try to get your fish out, and remove the under gravel filter, do a LARGE gravel vac and water change, then add fish and water again.

[Lab_Rat]

Actually, UGFs are pretty efficient and provide a large area for bacterial colonization. Just make sure you gravel vac with each wc so the flow remains decent. Since you have an UGF plus the old filter and the new filter you could transfer the used media from the old to the new and be done with it.

Since you have african cichlids, I will assume you are overstocking for aggression issues. Why not keep the old filter too? They need lots of filtration and it won't hurt to have the extra filter (except maybe your electric bill).

[FishyPastor]

Ok I will do that as well. If I use both filters I have 13 fish total, how muych more can I place in the tank?

[jackson17]

I don't think any more is a good idea. What kind of pleco?

And lab rat, from what I've read here, most people think they are bad and outdated, I have no experience with them though.

Couple threads a little while back where most post said that they do more harm then good.

[Lab_Rat]

I wouldn't add any more fish, especially looking at the stock you have. The auratus are highly aggressive, the kenyi are very aggressive, and the crabo will get too big for a 55g. I would rehome the venustus (gets too big and will be killed by the mbuna, and yes, I'm speaking from experience with less aggressive mbuna species than you have). If the stocking you have now is working and no one is getting hurt/killed I would not disrupt it by adding another fish.

As far as the UGF, they're a PITA to clean and can collect a lot of mulm/organic matter if they're not maintained properly. That's why proper maintenance is key. But an AC70 alone is not enough filtration for the fish he has in that size tank. Mbuna poop a lot. I also think removing the UGF without more filtration/a well colonized proper size filter would be a mistake at this point. Once the AC70 is colonized then it might be an option. Just FYI, I ran a rena filstar xp-3 and an emperor 400 on my 55g african cichlid tank.

[jackson17]

If you can, try to put a reverse powerhead on the UGF, that way the poop goes out and the filter can take it up. If you can, get another AC70 or even a AC110. Transfer the media from the whisper into the AC70, and start running the AC110, or other way around if you get the AC110, put the media in there and run the AC70. Either way, its recommended you get another filter.

Is the pleco you got a common one? If so, they get to big for 55 gallon.

[bushwhacker]

UGF are great in thier own way the problem comes in a few years down the road when so much crap has built up underneath they become a nitrate factory. no matter how much you change water you can never get the nitrates down

[AABatteries]

UGF are great in thier own way the problem comes in a few years down the road when so much crap has built up underneath they become a nitrate factory. no matter how much you change water you can never get the nitrates down

100% True.

[bushwhacker]

several months ago, a young lady came in with a nitrate problem. reading her post i saw the tank was 5 yrs old and running a UGF. she had tried everything to get them down nothing worked. i suggested she remove the ugf. 2 days later she was back and her nitrates were right where she wanted them... i'm not going to restart that debate lol. but with the other options we have for filtration today i dont feel a ugf is worth the hassle.

[Sharon]

Agree! :ssmile:

[FishyPastor]

The UGF has two power heads on it, I was wondering if the UGF is any good since the Kenyi uncover it anyway by moving the gravel. I will go with the two filters and put the bio meida from the old filter into the new one. Any other thought are appreciated.