new filter question

[volcomkrew4life]

How long does it take a new filter to fill up with good bacteria if it's placed on an already cycled tank with another filter that is already full of good bacteria? Same time as a cycle would take? (a month or so)

[Pufferpunk]

6 weeks & it will contain <1/2 the bacteria to support the bioload of the tank.

[volcomkrew4life]

So in about 12 weeks I can take the old filter off and just run the new one?

[Pufferpunk]

You can but keep an eye on the parameters, as you will be removing some of the good bacteria.

[Arny]

Why don't you split the bacteria filled media and put half in the old one and half in the new one

[volcomkrew4life]

The filter that is already filled with bacteria is a completely different filter than the new one.

The old one is a Tetra Whisper that uses a bioscrubber http://www.tetra-fish.com/sites/TetraFi ... px?id=2416

And the new one is an AquaClear 50 which uses a biomax filter insert http://www.petfooddirect.com/product/15 ... ia-Insert-

It was a good idea Arny but as you can see they're two completely different media types.

[RTR]

Also do remember that if the bacteria are 1/2 in each of the two units, when separated to run independently, the remaining unit can double in 24 hours. That shoid be competent to handle the full load quickly. Just skip a day or two feeding and you should be home free with no detectable ammonia or nitrite.

HTH

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Why not just keep both filters running? Extra filtration doesn't hurt anything.