Removing pre existing filters

[pennex1]

I have a 45 gallon tank with 8 2"-3" discus. Growing them out to about 4-5in before putting them into the 125 gallon tank. I do daily 50-80% water changes right now. I have a AquaClear 110, Cascade 1000 canister, and a sponge doing the filtration in the tank. Overkill filtering. The tank is already cycled.

0 ppm Nitrite
0 ppm ammonia
5-10 ppm Nitrate
6.8 ph


I am thinking of removing all the filters and just leaving the sponge to do the work in the 45 gallon and continue to do the daily water change. Will this effect the cycle of the tank by removing the 2 of the 3 pre existing filter? Is this asking too much from the sponge? The sponge is 3-15/16" x 9" high. It is good for up to 130 gallon tank.

Perhaps i should remove 1 filter per week to allow the sponge to catch up?

thanks

 

[bigbadfish711]

You answered your own question. Remove on filter at a time to allow the the sponge to catch up. But with doing 80% water changes daily I doubt you will have much of an issue with build up.

 

[knifegill]

As you remove each filter, first lightly shake off the largest organic mulm into a bucket of tank water. Then put the media directly into your tank (won't hurt your fish...I promise!) and squeeze the bacteria out until your tank water turns into a gray-brown cloud. Within an hour this cloud will disappear and your bacteria will be in your sponge and on the floor of the tank. Voila.