Adding new filters?

[dontgetbit]

I have a 55g currently running with 2 hob filters, a Millennium 3000 and a Whisper 30-60 that came with the tank. I have 2 new AquaClear 70's that will arrive on Monday to replace the current filters.

What would be the best way to transfer the bb from the old filters to the new?

My thoughts were place the biomax from the AC 70's into the old filters, let them run for a week or so. Then replace 1 old filter with 1 AC 70 with seeded biomax, let that run for a week. Then remove the second old filter and add the second AC 70 with seeded biomax. I am not sure how wide the AC's are but there may be the possibility of running both in place of 1 of the old filters.

I would like to be very cautious after changing out my gravel for colorquartz earlier this week. I know I lost some established bb in the gravel.

 

[OscarMaster]

i think your strategy is a good way to go.

 

[crisper]

That's the right way to go about it. Or if you have the room to hang them you can run all 4 for like 6 weeks then remove the old filters.

 

[fobrinkle]

If you ordered them from BigAl's for 20 bucks then Bio-max is not included. I got mine on Thursday and put pot scrubbies in them. If you stand them up you can get four in there. A lot cheaper than bio-max.

 

[dontgetbit]

Thanks for the suggestions. My current filters take up most of the opening in my lids, but I will have a better idea once the AC's get here.

If you ordered them from BigAl's for 20 bucks then Bio-max is not included. I got mine on Thursday and put pot scrubbies in them. If you stand them up you can get four in there. A lot cheaper than bio-max.

Yeah that is the deal that I found. I actually got a couple of boxes of biomax to go with them. Its hard to pass up 2 AC 70's, plus the biomax for less than $50 total, plus $7 or so for shipping.

 

[dontgetbit]

Well my AC's showed up today and this is not going to be as easy as I planned. The biomax bags will not fit in my current filters.

So now I need to come up with a new plan. I'm thinking about replacing 1 of the old filters with 1 AC with both bags of biomax with a sponge under them. Take the old filter catridges from the filter that will be removed and washing them out in the tank water.

I know this method is used when "instantly" cycling a tank, so I hope that enough bb will transfer into the AC, along with whats already in the other old filter.

Does anyone see any issue with this method?

 

[knicks791]

Yeah, thats was bound to happen. Take the old media from your old filter and put it in the new AC filters along with the AC stock filter and bio max. Leave out the carbon bags if neccessary.

 

[Iffrat]

as long as you dont take both out you should be ok .. but is there any way you could fit the new AND old on the tank at the same time .. thats how i did my Fx5's .. let them run with my rena 3 for 3 or 4 weeks then took the rena 3 off the tank .. worked perfect ..

 

[dontgetbit]

The only way to run all 4 filters would be to move the lids/lights over but it would require placing the AC's on the sides or front of the tank. I could possibly run 1 on the far end for now, then add the other in a couple of weeks.

I am going to try a few configurations later and see what I can come up with.

 

[dontgetbit]

I managed to fit both AC 70's in place of the old Whisper 30-60. I pulled the cartridges out of the Whisper, trashed the plastic frames, folded them up, and placed them in between the sponge and biomax in the AC.

So at the moment my 55 gal has 900 gph of filtration! The top of the tank looks like a river. I think I'll go buy a few RTC's now...just kidding.

I may actually turn down the AC 70's to about 50% to reduce the mini wave pool effect.