How Would I Go About Changing Out A Filter Pump In An Established Tank ?

Hello, so, I have a 20 gallon tank with a Marineland penguin 150 bio wheel that I'm not overly fond of. I keep having issues with reduced flow, the wheel not spinning, noise, having to clean the propeller...etc. So I was thinking about switching it out with a Fluval or something like that. How exactly would I go about doing this ? Could I simply run both filters for a few weeks, then take part of the filter/wheel in the already established filter & place it in the new one, let that run for another few weeks, then eventually take out the bio wheel ? Or what ?

 

Run both filters for a few weeks the new filter would not have beneficial bacteria which would result in an ammonia spike soon run it for a few weeks so you know the bacteria is on the new filter

 

Your instincts sound spot on! I'd leave the old media in for as long as possible, even if it just sits at the top of the basket of the new filter for a while, but yes, this should get a new filter established for you

 

Who were you referring to?

 

Hego_Damask...I agree with kuhlkid your thoughts were right on point. You got this, you know what your doing. Keeping your old media in the new filter after they have ran together will be fine.

 

Referring to OP in my message, but your response was just as sound!