I have ordered a new canister filter for my 55 gallon tank. It is a more powerful filter. My question is, should I keep the old filter media from my current filter and put it in the new one or is it ok to use new media? It is an established tank. I've had it for well over a year now.
Options:
a) put the old media into a nylon bag, preferably near the new filter's inlet for a while
b) use the old media in the new filter (adding some new media, as needed), then replace half of the old media after a month, repeat after another month if you don't want the old media in there in the long run
c) just run both filters for a few weeks, then remove the old filter and do more frequent water changes during the adjustment period (50%/week for 3 weeks would probably do it).
why not just run your current filter for a couple weeks WITH the new one, you'll get better water quality and that will colonize your new filter as well.
It's never a good idea to just totally change your filter media when it comes to biological. Mechanical(pads, sponges etc...) is a different story due to the fact that its primary function is catching gunk and debris, not much else.
I had a penguin 350 and I got an eheim 2217 about a month ago, so I ran both of them until now when I just got a pressurized co2 system. I would have just kept both otherwise.
