Adding a Fluval 405 to the setup and have questions?

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J

Juice79

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 20, 2008
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I have a 55g mixed Malawi setup with about 20 juveniles in it. Water parameters are great with Ammonia = 0, Nitrites = 0, and Nitrates = 10-20. Currently I am running 2 AC70's and 1 AC 70 Powerhead (with quick filter attachment). After much reading on this site I realized with my bioload I should prpbably get a canister filter to be safe. I was able to find a good deal on a brand new Fluval 405 so I jumped on it. I plan on replacing one of my AC70's with this new filter since I will eventually be usiing one AC70 on another tank. I plan on installing the new 405 and running all 4 filters until the fluval is ready. My questions are the following:

What is the best way to get the bacteria onto the new 405 bio media?

How long should I run all the filters in conjunction before I can safely remove one of the AC70's and not crash the tank?

Thanks in advance guys.
 
i did the exact same thing hook them up and run all of them for 2 weeks and remove one and check your water you could use a bacteria accelerator but i dont think it neccesary removing one filter in two weeks or so should be fine the tank is cycled the bacteria will colonize quikly
 
You should be fine after 2 weeks given you already have a established bacteria in the tank. If you have any plants in the tank that will help fill the filteration gap if bacteria is not fully established in the new filter.
 
A couple of ways to do this...

Take a little of the bio-max out of the AC70, and put it in the 405.
Take some of the 405's ceramic media and put it in the AC70...Run the filters as usual, and keep an eye on the water parameters. This will seed the virgin media with beneficial bacteria...

Another way to do it, is to put the virgin 405 on the tank along with the current filters, and add Seachems "STABILITY" for the 7 day regimen.

Just remember, the majority of your beneficial bacteria is in the filters media not the tank/water etc...;)
 
Thanks guys!!!..cant wait to get this thing set-up!
 
Also, I have a crushed coral/sand mix as substrate but I like the look of just the sand better. Can I put the crushed coral in meshbags/pantyhose in one of the trays to help buffer the PH..or is there a chance I will damage the filter.
 
Juice79;2522204; said:
Also, I have a crushed coral/sand mix as substrate but I like the look of just the sand better. Can I put the crushed coral in meshbags/pantyhose in one of the trays to help buffer the PH..or is there a chance I will damage the filter.
Click to expand...
Anything fine and gritty that can lodge in the pump motor will cause havoc...I'd be worried that the sand that is trapped in the crushed coral might get into the pump...If you absolutely need it, bag it and hide it behind some decor...
 
Just take all the media (sponge, Biomax, etc.) that is in one of the AC70's and put it in the 405. Just cut the sponge to fit in the tray of the 405. Then you can safely remove the AC70 as you have transferred all the media over.

Burt :)
 
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