Gameplan for upgrading from twin HOBs to FX4

[Chippah]

I am going to upgrade my filters from twin 350b hobs to an fx4 in my 90gal live plant tank, cycled, with a bunch of various small community fish. Currently just using the standard marineland replacement cartridges that are full of carbon iirc. What should my gameplan be for integrating the fx4 and phasing out the hobs? I was thinking of hooking up the fx4 and keeping the hobs and pulling one out after 2 weeks and the other after another 2 weeks, but then after doing some searching I saw it reccomended to just put the filter media in the fx4 and get rid of the hobs right away. If that is the way to go, where in the fx4 should I put them and should I put the blue filter material in with them? Thanks!

 

[MrBryan723]

Honestly both methods work fine. The reason people put it in their canisters is just to prevent a mini cycle, you can just use it to replace whatever floss material the canister comes with. Or anywhere else it will fit.
Why not keep one of the hobs and plant some Devils Ivy or a sweet potato in it?

 

[Chippah]

Honestly both methods work fine. The reason people put it in their canisters is just to prevent a mini cycle, you can just use it to replace whatever floss material the canister comes with. Or anywhere else it will fit.
Why not keep one of the hobs and plant some Devils Ivy or a sweet potato in it?

Ok, sounds good. As long as either way works I'll see what's easiest to do when I get the fx4. I just didn't want to shock the tank by taking away all the bacteria too quickly.

As far as the devils ivy or sweet potato, I'm clueless, but intrigued.

 

[lojack]

When I switched from HOB to my original canister I did the "shove all the old media inside the new canister" method. I didn't experience a mini cycle so seemed like it worked. I gradually threw all the old media away.

Years later when it was time for a new canister I did the same thing.

I'm not sure if that was the right or wrong way to do it, but nothing died lol. Good luck!

 

[Chippah]

When I switched from HOB to my original canister I did the "shove all the old media inside the new canister" method. I didn't experience a mini cycle so seemed like it worked. I gradually threw all the old media away.

Years later when it was time for a new canister I did the same thing.

I'm not sure if that was the right or wrong way to do it, but nothing died lol. Good luck!

That's what I ended up doing. The hobs were right where I wanted my inlet and outlet to go so I took them out. I'll keep them as emergency backups should I ever need them. I cut the floss off the cartridge filter and laid it in with the white foam around the outside of the trays and put the carbon in the bags that came with the fx4 and put those in on top of the carbon pad. The tank still seems happy this morning so hopefully I did it correctly.

For anyone that's interested, petsmart gave me $80 off my fx4 with their paws rewards card or whatever it's called. The thing where they scan your card or put your phone number in. Knocked it down to an even $200!

 

[lojack]

For anyone that's interested, petsmart gave me $80 off my fx4 with their paws rewards card or whatever it's called. The thing where they scan your card or put your phone number in. Knocked it down to an even $200!

Was that the 25% off coupon for playing the game in the app?

 

[Chippah]

Was that the 25% off coupon for playing the game in the app?

I don't even have the app so I don't think so.

 

[lojack]

I don't even have the app so I don't think so.

I wonder if it’s a regional sale because I saw on another forum that someone scored a fx6 for $250 when they’re all $350 here.

 

[Chippah]

I wonder if it’s a regional sale because I saw on another forum that someone scored a fx6 for $250 when they’re all $350 here.

It could be. They didn't even have it advertised. I was expecting to pay full price and had to look at the receipt to figure out why it was so cheap.

 

[86 ssinit]

You guys are correct with your upgrades. Adding the media moves the cycle. As to the fx4 another nice option is to add an ATI hydro intake sponge to your intake. Clean this sponge when doing water changes and you fx4 will stay cleaner longer.

 

[Chippah]

You guys are correct with your upgrades. Adding the media moves the cycle. As to the fx4 another nice option is to add an ATI hydro intake sponge to your intake. Clean this sponge when doing water changes and you fx4 will stay cleaner longer.

You're talking about this, right?

 

[86 ssinit]

Yes those are them . I used the one in the middle.

 

[lojack]

It could be. They didn't even have it advertised. I was expecting to pay full price and had to look at the receipt to figure out why it was so cheap.

I went into petsmart to get a bag of dog food and left with an fx6... haha. I should have never walked down the fish aisle!

Not advertised online but it’s $249.99 in store through the end of the month. I used the 25% off coupon from the app (expired today) and it was $203 out the door after tax.