Adding New Filters\Swapping Filters While Cycling

[Zevyn]

Hello all,

I'm currently cycling a 37 gallon tank (about 1 week in) with the Topfin 40 that came with the setup. I purchased two AquaClear 50's for it going forward, but have not received them yet.

I plan to just replace the Topfin with the two AC's in the end, but I didn't want to disturb the cycling process at this point.

What would be my best course of action in easing into replacing the Topfin with the AC's? Can I run all 3 on the back during the remainder of the cycling and let the two new AC filter media develop a colony, or just let the Topfin continue filtering until it's cycled and ready for fish, and then just remove it and add the two AC's? I'm guessing the substrate and aquascaping should have enough bacteria for the tank if I remove the Topfin filter from the equation? I'm not sure...I understand that the filter media houses quite a bit of it. It may be possible to just take the filter cartridge from the Topfin and force it into the AC's, but I haven't seen them yet to see if that's feasible dimension-wise.

 

[Zevyn]

I should add that my concerns with running 3 are harsh currents. There are just 8 feeder guppies in there that are quite happy (In hindsight I would have gone fishless, but I'm still learning the ropes here...), and I'm not really over-concerned with them getting pushed around that much, but they do like to come to the surface to eat when I feed them and I'm not going to submit to unnecessary cruelty if I can avoid it.

 

[deeda]

You could always just run 1 new AC with the Top Fin filter if the TF media won't fit in the AC filter.