New Filter Setup....

[Chooka]

Hopefully my FX5 should arrive today and i have a few questions.....

I was going to do a gravel vac last night but thought it might be better to wait.
Reason being is i have the small eheim set up and running on this tank, can i just setup the Fluval and turn it on and it won't try to cycle the tank on me?

Should i do a water change and gravel vac before i turn on the new filter or not?

Again sorry for the stupid question....

Brett

 

[ken 429]

you dont cycle your tank so to speak. Its your filter that does the cycling. Leave the ehiem running and it will help to seed you new filter with beneficial bacteria.If you take off the ehiem before you seed your new filter you will restart the cycle process. A water change and gravel vac wont hurt you make sure to dechlor your water before it gets into your filter or it will kill your bb and again you will have to recycle

 

[Chooka]

Ok cool, thats what i thought, i will be leaving the eheim on this tank anyway.

So it won't matter about the water change/gravel cleaning?

 

[CichlidsGoneWild]

Waterchange will not hurt your tank cycling process unless you're doing 90% water change then that would stress the fish out due to major water parameters swing. Keep the Eheim running and let your new filter run for 2-3 weeks then the beneficial bacteria should be enough to support your tank.

 

[Chooka]

Fantastic, i will give it a gravel clean tonight them, cheers