Switching filtration--how to avoid a crash?

Wow, ok, sorry for the delay! Something was up with the site and I couldn't post any replies for a few weeks. Not sure what happened with my account.

Anyway, everything has been going pretty well with the change! I took out the sponge from the TetraTec about a week ago, and everything is still looking fine. Levels are good, and the fish seem pretty happy. In fact, with the increased light, the plants have been growing like crazy, and the fish have been more active. I'm pretty happy with everything so far!

One issue that I had with the sponge sitting in the filter tray along with the filter cartridge was that when the cartridge got a little full and gunky, the water flow wasn't so good. I woke up one morning to find my tank down about 5 gallons of water that had overflowed out the back of the tank because it couldn't get through the cartridge/sponge combo. No water damage, luckily. I'm glad I found it when I did instead of coming home to a wet floor and a mostly empty tank.

Also, I'm going to have to go with the filter bag and floss method soon. The cartridges fill up pretty quickly (the hood fits one, vs. the 4 that the TetraTec had), so that's going to get expensive. Any links to buying that type of stuff online? I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Thanks for all of your help, everyone! I'm calling this a successful switchover!

Sean
 
If you have power heads or any kind of significant circulation in your tank you'll have enough healthy colonies of bacteria living in your gravel and rock strata to compensate for the loss of the filter. If you have an essentially bare tank with only plants and and an external filter for bacteria to cling to, you'll have a problem.

I've said this before in other threads and will repeat it here. Using external filters, bio-wheels, wet-dry/trickle filter etc. and other essentially over-marketed gadgets to handle the nitrogen cycle is the equivelant of wanting a colostomy bag vs letting your body handle the process internally.
 
sean said:
Do you use any activated carbon/charcoal?
Click to expand...
My UGF uses two carbon catridges (have to change twice a month). It does a great job when coupled with my 20-30gal pump. My water is crystal clear.
 
=/ It's all my filter came with. Maybe when I setup my 50gal I'll buy a biowheel or HOT filter setup. For now I'll just dread the trouble of digging out the UGF system.
 
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