Need help right now.

[Freshwaterfishlover]

Can you cut the old filter pad to fit upstream of the new one? That way the water flow will go from the established filter towards the clean pad. Leaving the pad floating in the aquarium will significantly reduce the population of beneficial bacteria in it because they are used to the rapid flow of water, oxygen, and nutrients past them. That said, it still is a positive step as noted above.

I could cut the pad and put it on top of the new one, but not till tomorrow afternoon. The whole pad will not fit.