a few questions on a filter upgrade

[cowfish7]

I have a 29gal tropical freshwater tank that has been running on an undergravel filter way too long.

I am going to move the fish to my secondary 10gal tank, and then clean the 29gal. by just wiping the algae off the glass and rinsing the gravel. Then I am going to switch to a HOB filter. I am a little concerned about the possibility that the filter will backup and overflow. And the noise level -- I understand canisters are quieter (but I am not quite ready for the price of them). This is going to be in my TV room - I hope the HOB isn't too distracting. Of course, the air pump I use for the UG is pretty noisy, so maybe the HOB is quieter than that.

So I am looking at the Hagen AquaClear 50. I am hoping there is some flow control, and then I can use it in the 10gal to seed the media with bacteria. I have been reading up on cycling (i haven't done it for ages), and from what I've found, leaving the new filter in an established tank for 7 days should be enough. But I am not sure how long to leave it in the newly cleaned tank before re-introducing the fish.


Also, what additional filter media should I get when I order the Aqua Clear? I don't know how much BioMax comes with it or if another media is better. BTW, how long does the BioMax last? I suppose that depends on how much particulate gets into the pores?

 

[theotheragentm]

The filter will not be noisy at all. It is a hum. As long as you raise the water level so it's not trickling into the water but flowing into it, you won't have a problem. The hum probably sounds like someone using an electric toothbrush through a closer doorway. The only time you will hear noise from the filter itself will be when it needs to be cleaned.

 

[newfound77951]

The filter will come with foam, carbon and biomax, I think. The carbon can be used if you want but a lot of people don't. if you do, it needs to be replaced every month. The foam block will last the better part of a year before it gets too tattered to keep using. I rinse my foam block out about once a month (in tank-temp, dechlorinated water) and put it back in (I have an AC 70 on my 55). When the block starts to go, put a new one in on top of the old one for a month and that will seed the new one. Then next filter cleaning the old one can safely be thrown out. The biomax will last forever.....I rinse it off each time I clean the filter and then it goes back in. The biomax is really just a surface for beneficial bacteria to grow on, so it really never goes bad.

I would run the HOB along with the UG for a month and then take the fish out, remove the UG and put the fish back in. Don't clean the HOB at the same time (wait a week or so) and you shouldn't see a cycle.

FYI it is pretty impossible for an HOB to overflow.....that's what they do anyway! And mine are pretty quiet. sometimes the impeller will get a little noisy but that it usually its way of letting you know that it wants to be cleaned.