Best Way to Change Filter

[BiGBlak]

I just wanted to make this public to see what you guys think or how you would go about this... Im replacing my Marineland Filter with an AC110 and i dont want to disturb my test results and have a small spike in the process so how should i go about it ? Heres a bit of background of how i used this filter.
My Eheim 2217 has been my primary filtration until i went and got the marineland bio wheel filter. i finished my cycle 3 weeks ago and i would say that my marineland was only on my tank like 2 weeks maybe 3 weeks before i finished my cycle ( more on the 2 week side) so do you think there is a mass amount of BB that would even matter if i just removed my marineland and just run the AC110 ?( right now i have both of them running against each other( opposite side of the same end of the tank) with my eheim on the other side of the tank . and ive been doing that going on 5 days now. So yea what would be you best advise to me helping me avoid any spikes . .. thnx

[korweabo0]

people usually take the filter media and put it in the new filter or inside the new tank. it usually doesn't disturb the BB which is already present.

[BiGBlak]

people usually take the filter media and put it in the new filter or inside the new tank. it usually doesn't disturb the BB which is already present.
Is the BB in the Cartridges ? how do i put it in the AC?

[Lady Hobbs]

You need to run the most seasoned filter you have with your new filter and I'd leave it for at least a month. You could remove the charcoal from the AC giving you room for the cartridge from the other filter. Just lay it on the sponge.

[BiGBlak]

You need to run the most seasoned filter you have with your new filter and I'd leave it for at least a month. You could remove the charcoal from the AC giving you room for the cartridge from the other filter. Just lay it on the sponge.
that would be my eheim which im not planning on replacing . so if i discontinue the marineland and just run the ac whats the worst that can happen ? right now my test are all good ites 0ppm ates 10-20ppm ammonia 0ppm...

[korweabo0]

that would be my eheim which im not planning on replacing . so if i discontinue the marineland and just run the ac whats the worst that can happen ? right now my test are all good ites 0ppm ates 10-20ppm ammonia 0ppm...

if you discontinue(as in turn off and leave it in the tank) your ML and run the AC, your BB will still live, but i.m.o. i think the chances of your tank still being stable would drop. although, not to a significant degree.

[Cliff]

Just to eco some of the comments already here, I would recommend one of two options:

1) Run both filters (actually 3 including your canister) for about 6 weeks. This would allow the AC to get seeded with BB with any risk to your tank
2) Take all the filter media from the old filter and put it in the AC without cleaning it before moving.

Either way, check you water daily for about a week to make sure nothing went wrong.

[BiGBlak]

Just to eco some of the comments already here, I would recommend one of two options:

1) Run both filters (actually 3 including your canister) for about 6 weeks. This would allow the AC to get seeded with BB with any risk to your tank
2) Take all the filter media from the old filter and put it in the AC without cleaning it before moving.

Either way, check you water daily for about a week to make sure nothing went wrong.
how do i do option #2 since the marineland has cartridges ? how do i transfer the BB ?

[Cliff]

how do i do option #2 since the marineland has cartridges ? how do i transfer the BB ?

I think Lady Hobb’s suggestion would work best. Don\t use the carbon insert that comes with the AC. Put the sponges that come with the AC on the bottom of the media tray and then lay the cartridges on top of that.

You’ll need to keep them there for at least 6 weeks allowing the sponge in the AC to get a good amount of BB in it. You could remove the cartridge from the AC at that point if you wish, and replace with bio rings or another sponge.

[Lady Hobbs]

that would be my eheim which im not planning on replacing . so if i discontinue the marineland and just run the ac whats the worst that can happen ? right now my test are all good ites 0ppm ates 10-20ppm ammonia 0ppm...

So, you are going to leave the marineland bio wheel filter on the tank and add a new AC, right? I would be a little concerned that that bio wheel is not really well seeded yet causing you an ammonia spike. New tanks are very touchie and can be set-back very easily. Can you remove some of the filter media from the filter you want to remove and add that media to your other two filters?

[BiGBlak]

So, you are going to leave the marineland bio wheel filter on the tank and add a new AC, right? I would be a little concerned that that bio wheel is not really well seeded yet causing you an ammonia spike. New tanks are very touchie and can be set-back very easily. Can you remove some of the filter media from the filter you want to remove and add that media to your other two filters?
The AC has been running already on the tank going on 4-5 days . and before that i had the sponge on the intake of the marineland for 2 days .so right now the ac is on one front side of my tank and the marine land is on the back side it looks like this [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] I plan to remove the marineland by the way and only run the ac and the ehiem .

[Lady Hobbs]

I see what you're doing but lack of seeded material is a little concerning. This will depend on your fishload in the tank and perhaps you might want to add some bacteria booster just to stay on the safe side? I just don't know as running that other filter only two weeks has been long enough.

[Brujo]

ive had great succes with the marineland bio wheel filters, dont know why youd wanna change it. but since you are changin it.

you could eaither do what lady hobbs said and just lay the sponges under the cartrige in the marineland filter, and leavy it for 6 weeks then put the sponges in ac, or cut the blue filter from the cartrige and take the carbon inside along with the blue filter stuff and put it inside the ac filter

[190MPH]

cut the blue filter from the cartrige and take the carbon inside along with the blue filter stuff and put it inside the ac filter

That's what I'd do after running them both on the tank for a couple of weeks. This way you're adding the seeded media to the new filter and not losing any. Just monitor your parameters closely for a while.