Had to replace power filter

Long story short I'm going canoeing and I was making sure everything was in working order. My luck would be that 3 hours before I leave, my 1 month old filter stopped working!!!!

Its top fin brand that supposedly has lifetime replacement but I don't have time for this now.

So I drove 20 miles to my closest store and the employee was new so not much help. I ended up grabbing a fluval 30 that cycles 150 gph (I have 30 gallon tank)

Its quiet! It works! It looks super fancy yet simple. Comes with carbon and biomax and a sponge. So all 3 filtration in 1 (so was the top fin but that didn't last long).

Now my question is...... How do I do this so I don't lose my cycle?? Please I just finally got cycled last week since I did fish in cycle. No casualties (thankfully)

I did order a 2nd filter prior to have extra filtration because my mollies are dirty. Poop machines!! But its shipping from Hong Kong and won't be here till july 22.

 

I would cut the floss material surrounding the cartridge and insert that below the biomax. The Fluval filters are great!

 

I would cut the floss material surrounding the cartridge and insert that below the biomax. The Fluval filters are great!

Could I dump the carbon from the old filter and just put the whole floss in. Right now I'm just floating the bio thing from the old one.

I also added a double dose of stress zyme. Hopefull that was helpful and not a waste since I'm almost out.

 

Yes, you can dump the carbon and put the whole cartridge in if it fits. It certainly wouldn't hurt dosing the Stress Zyme but I've heard mixed reviews on its effectiveness. Test your water parameters after to make sure you don't have a cycle bump.

 

Yes, you can dump the carbon and put the whole cartridge in if it fits. It certainly wouldn't hurt dosing the Stress Zyme but I've heard mixed reviews on its effectiveness. Test your water parameters after to make sure you don't have a cycle bump.

I have to leave in about 30 mins. I may do another pwc just to make sure.

 

Dose Prime for the full volume of your tank size if you have it.

 

Dose Prime for the full volume of your tank size if you have it.

Is prime just bacteria?

Well the filter floss will make the biomax stick out of the water. I have an old fry net can I just toss it in there or does it need to be inside the filter? m2
My aluminum foil background doesn't help with taking pics sorry

 

It's better to put the floss in where your filter is so the water flows through it and helps seed the biomax. I would just cut the floss out and stuff it in underneath the biomax.

Prime is a water conditioner that also detoxifies ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for 24hrs. I suggested dosing it in case you hit a cycle bump from switching filters.

 

It's better to put the floss in where your filter is so the water flows through it and helps seed the biomax. I would just cut the floss out and stuff it in underneath the biomax.

Prime is a water conditioner that also detoxifies ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for 24hrs. I suggested dosing it in case you hit a cycle bump from switching filters.

Oh I have ammo lock. And the carbon in the fluval filter is has ammonia remover in it.

 

No wait I lied..... I was looking at an ad on the side of the box oops.

It's just carbon, nor ammonia remover. I dosed with ammo lock yesterday, but I can do it again

 

Oh, ok. I was a bit confused since TMK, the carbon that comes in those filters shouldn't contain an ammo remover. Ok, you could dose the ammo lock but do you have time to test before you leave?

 

As el siad. Easiest. Cut the floss off the filter and put under the bio media. It will do double duty while you are camping it will bio filter jsut like it did in the top fin.. and it will populate the new media

 

I cut it in half and crammed it in. And I'm doing a pwc.

 

That will help a lot. It's like an almost instant cycle...

 

Ok ill update sunday night, tell ya if my fishies survive! Thanks

 

I came home to a crystal clear tank! No casualties

I had been battling new tank syndrome and had to do several 50% water changes a week to get rid of cloudy water (part of reason I was concerned about having to replace the filter then leave town) so I am very pleased to come home and be able to see straight thru from one end to the other.

I haven't tested the water yet but I plan to do a pwc anyways. Thanks for the help

I have always heard great things about fluval products and I'm glad I took this filter home.

My background is aluminum foil so the light reflects funny for pics.

 

YAY. clear tank with no casualties

 

I did a pwc but I didnt clean the sponge because I didnt think 3 days of running would clog it, I had about 5 gallons of water overflow out the back while I was out today down the particle board stand and all over the carpet. I can't catch a break!

 

Oh no. This was from the new sponge that came with the filter?

 

Oh no. This was from the new sponge that came with the filter?

Idk, both were pretty dirty. It seems to be running fine now tho.

 

Did you have too much media in there maybe?

 

oh no... no bueno... Odd that the water flowed over the back. I usually try and make sure my filters are lower than the top of the filter. That way in the odd chance water isn't getting through it just goes ove rthe top and out the out flow.

 

Did you have too much media in there maybe?

Maybe I should of used the old pad in place of the new sponge instead of both. I did remove the old one and I just left the old bio thing (plastic green part)

oh no... no bueno... Odd that the water flowed over the back. I usually try and make sure my filters are lower than the top of the filter. That way in the odd chance water isn't getting through it just goes ove rthe top and out the out flow.

I thought of that but I leveled the back as much as I could, if it was an inch further from the wall I might be able to overlevel it to pour back into the tank. Right now it's on the front so I can watch it a little better.

 

Have you tested the water yet?

 

Have you tested the water yet?

Only with the strips. I got paid today so I can go get the master kit.