N757QQ
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Howdy er'body.
I have an 'established' 55g Malawi Peacock Cichlid tank with an Aqueon 55/75 HOB filter. While the water quality is great, and all of my levels test fine, I am wanting to get the filter out of the tank. With that in mind, I purchased a Fluval 406 Canister filter that will be here Friday. I have a few questions about changing over, some accessories & such.
First, I currently have the filter media out of the HOB & am letting it run to just circulate water, as I have 1 fish that is not eating & staying in my plant by itself. I am thinking it might have bloat, as I saw white feces hanging from him last night. So I am currently treating the entire tank of 15 cichlids to be safe, though they are all eating. To get back to the point, Friday, I plan to do a 50% WC & re-setup the filtration assuming he continues to improve & continues to eat.
How do I change over to a new filter without having to recycle the tank? Can I run both to allow the bacteria to migrate (if that is even possible) for a few days before going solely to the Fluval? Or will I have to let it run to build up bacteria?
I also want to get the heater out of the tank at the same time. I have read up a bit on the inline heater once I discovered that it was an option, but did not get any clear information on a quality heater nor on other items I will need to purchase to make the change over to an inline possible. Any help here would be great.
Lastly, I have a bubbler in the tank to help agitate the surface for better gas exchange due to the number of fish in the tank. Can I remove that & is it best to set up the out flow hose to agitate the surface, or for current, or will gas exchange be okay without the bubbler?
Thanks in advance,
N
I have an 'established' 55g Malawi Peacock Cichlid tank with an Aqueon 55/75 HOB filter. While the water quality is great, and all of my levels test fine, I am wanting to get the filter out of the tank. With that in mind, I purchased a Fluval 406 Canister filter that will be here Friday. I have a few questions about changing over, some accessories & such.
First, I currently have the filter media out of the HOB & am letting it run to just circulate water, as I have 1 fish that is not eating & staying in my plant by itself. I am thinking it might have bloat, as I saw white feces hanging from him last night. So I am currently treating the entire tank of 15 cichlids to be safe, though they are all eating. To get back to the point, Friday, I plan to do a 50% WC & re-setup the filtration assuming he continues to improve & continues to eat.
How do I change over to a new filter without having to recycle the tank? Can I run both to allow the bacteria to migrate (if that is even possible) for a few days before going solely to the Fluval? Or will I have to let it run to build up bacteria?
I also want to get the heater out of the tank at the same time. I have read up a bit on the inline heater once I discovered that it was an option, but did not get any clear information on a quality heater nor on other items I will need to purchase to make the change over to an inline possible. Any help here would be great.
Lastly, I have a bubbler in the tank to help agitate the surface for better gas exchange due to the number of fish in the tank. Can I remove that & is it best to set up the out flow hose to agitate the surface, or for current, or will gas exchange be okay without the bubbler?
Thanks in advance,
N
