Switching filtration--how to avoid a crash?

S

sean

AC Members
Sep 25, 2004
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Hi everyone,

I'm switching from a Tetratec filter to an Eclipse hood filtration system. I've already switched out the Tetratec heater for an in-tank one, so that's set. What I'm worried about is taking out the biological filter in the Tetratec's sponge and replacing it with a brand-new bio-wheel in the Eclipse.

Now, I'm ready to do emergency water changes every day for the next few weeks if need be. The tank is established and has been running for over 2 years. What else do I need to have ready? What should I be prepared for? I have some "instant biological filter" stuff I can squirt in when need be, but I'm mostly relying on water changes to keep things ok until they get reestablished.

Any other caveats?

Thanks!

Sean
 
Sean

I would just leave your Tetratec running and install your new Eclipse. It shouldn't take but a week or so the establish itself to the tank. After a week or so of running remove your sponge filter.

Mike
 
Can you transfer the media from the existing filter over to the new filter? Run it in there for a few weeks, then gradually remove it and allow the biological media to shift into the bio-wheel--which it will do, since the bio-wheel will be a better environment for the bacteria.

You could also cycle the new filter on a tub, fishlessly with ammonia--very easy to do, no risk to the fish.

Otherwise--unless you have Bio-Spira, the bottled products are useless. You'll need to perform daily water tests and changes to keep the wastes from building up to lethal levels as the new filter establishes.
 
Sorry for the long reply

The problem is the eclipse doesn't allow you to have a hang-on-back filter (I think that’s what you have. Take the filter media or biowheel out of the old filter and put it in the "tray" of the eclipse (cut it into pieces if you have to). As long as water is flowing over the old media the bacteria will do their job. You can put it right on top of the eclipse filter basket. This will also put your new biowheel directly downstream from the old media that is oozing with bacterial pioneers. Your substrate should also contain enough bacteria to get you through. If you do that I bet you will not see any ammonia spikes at all.

As an aside, the eclipse cartridges are 100% not reusable (click here). I now use a generic sponge in the basket (reusable, rinsed weekly), and a small filter bag stuffed with polyester filter floss (changed weekly) to catch the really fine stuff which the original cartridge did not do such a good job on. This lowered maintenance costs on that tank from whatever the cost of a new cartridge was (never bought one) to about .30 in filter floss. CAUTION watch how you position filter media in basket. If it impedes water flow too much water can and will spill down the back of the tank!!!! I use some small rocks to anchor media in a position so that this doesn’t happen.

Good luck, please post to let us know how it went.
 
Hi everyone,

Yeah, the problem with switching these 2 filters is that the Eclipse hood doesn't allow enough space to hang anything off the back.

I'm going to try putting some of the old filter media into the Eclipse tray, as suggested. I think that should work well. I have 2 filter bags that have been in there for about 2 weeks now, so they should work. If I can fit the actual sponge from the TetraTec in there, I'll use that instead. Or maybe a bit of both. :)

So, wow, you really don't need to get all those fancy filter cartridges, huh? I'm going to have to look into the filter bag and filter floss idea. What a savings! Do you use any activated carbon/charcoal?

Thanks so much, everyone! I'll report back with results. Tonight will be the big switchover.

Sean
 
I've got a Top Fin 60 dual HOB filter. I pulled both filters and placed them in a bucket to keep them "alive", as I replaced both with new 3 days ago. I was treating my tank with Pimafix and I wanted to remove the carbon, so I just decided, what the hey, take out the currently installed filters and install new ones with the carbon dumped out. I was worried about an Ammonia or Nitrite spike, but for the past 3 days I've measured no increase in either. (I'm keeping the removed filters alive just in case I get a spike, if so I'll throw them back in... (don't ask me why I didn't just dump the carbon out of my existing filters a re-use them, maybe because they were gunked up pretty heavily and it was easier and cleaner to just replace them). My tank is a 55 gal, I wonder if it's possible that enough bacteria exists in the tank (on decorations, substrate, etc) to eliminate any spike caused by the reduction in the colony by removing the mature filters...
 
So far, so good, everyone! The sponge from the TetraTec fits nicely right on top of the Eclipse cartridge, so the water is flowing right through both. No change in levels yet, but I plan to do a 30-50% water change tonight anyway.

I'll keep you posted!

Sean
 
The activated carbon in the eclipse filter was the catalyst for switching to the DIY filter media. I have live plants so i don't need or want the carbon. It's imposible to remove from the eclipse cartridge, and they dont' make them without carbon. If you do want carbon, just throw some in the filter bag with the polyfiber, I change mine about every other week.
 
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