Changing from Generic to AC 20 Filter?

[Ghostkid]

Okay, my dad picked up a 10g with an generic filter at walmart to take some of my sons guppies. He recently bought an AquaClear 20, to upgrade on the tank. What's the trick to switching out filters to keep the bacteria? I did mention two are better than one, but he just wants to put one on there.

I have to head to work, so I can't wait to hear the answers.

[rich311k]

You can run both at once for a few weeks. Otherwise take the media out of the old and stuff it in the new one. You could squeeze the gunk out of the old into the new and float the old media in a stocking for a week or two as well.

[Polish]

Just run both for a few weeks.

[Blueiz]

Both of the above are great answers. Personally Id put the media from the old filter into the new filter and gradually switch it out. Of course if you want to deal with a mini cycle you can just swap the filters out, but that would require water changes to keep the levels low while the bacteria colony colonizes the new filter. BUT if your stocking leel is low, the mini cycle would be minimal becasue you do have bacteria in the substrate, on deco, etc. It doesnt only live in the filter, however that is where the majority of it is.

[Cory Keeper]

What they said, run it about 2 weeks on the tank, should be fine.

[excuzzzeme]

You can run both at once for a few weeks. Otherwise take the media out of the old and stuff it in the new one. You could squeeze the gunk out of the old into the new and float the old media in a stocking for a week or two as well.

:iagree:

Two weeks is usually enough. Go 4 if you feel more comfortable. If your tank has been cycled more than 8 weeks, then 2 weeks should be plenty.

[Ghostkid]

Thanks for the help, I guess he'll have to run them both, the old one is the cartridge type, blue foam on one side and carbon on the other. So, he can't add the media to the other one.

[jbradt]

Thanks for the help, I guess he'll have to run them both, the old one is the cartridge type, blue foam on one side and carbon on the other. So, he can't add the media to the other one.

Sure he can... take the carbon/pouch off the frame, put it in the AC filter in the center/bottom position. This will seed the rest of the filter, then he can switch to the regular media for that position. AC's are great for variability.

[Mgamer20o0]

here is a odd thought why not leave them both on?

[Ghostkid]

Good question? always can use back up. He said the motor on the generic (aquatech brand) was going out. He kept cleaning it out but would just stop. I gave him the instructions on my AC and he liked how it disassembled and that he could adjust the flow. I think he might actually buy another when there on sale and keep it as back up. I might do the same.

[Mgamer20o0]

if it goes out then get rid of it. might as well leave it.

[Alan R]

AT to AC huh? Personally, i have never had any issues with AT. Of course, I only use them for very small tanks.

[Reddog80p]

Leave them both on. Backups are always nice in case one stops.

[PuppyFluffer]

A back up is also really nice if you have to quarantine a fish in a seperate tank, even if it's just a rubbermaid container!

[Danyal]

haha, i love my aquaclears for the same reason, they never stop, you can put anything into the media baskets and they're wonderfully easy to maintain.

[Ghostkid]

haha, i love my aquaclears for the same reason, they never stop, you can put anything into the media baskets and they're wonderfully easy to maintain.
That's why he's converting. I like the idea of fill it with what you need of media, just like a canister.