michealprater
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nick, that filter will be fine just give it a few weeks. Your cycle will not start over just because you added a new filter. Most filters have carbon filled filter pads, use them. They are great for making you water crystal clear, just make sure you rinse the **** out of them before you put them in the filter. If you can fit the media from the old filter in the new filter, that is a good idea as it will help the bacteria build up in the filter faster. The trick with mechanical filtration is to clean the pads often. If you allow gunk to build up on the pads, you are basically filtering your water with dirt. The biowheels will provide plenty of denitrifing bacteria. I think once you are cycled in, you will have plenty of luck. Freshwater is pretty easy as long as you follow basic maintenance, i.e. water changes monthly, keeping the gravel vaccumed and cleaning filter pads. Good Luck!
