New filter system and keeping good bacteria

Hi everyone, I’m pretty new to this. I’ve just started a 29 gallon tank with two bloated belly mollies. I plan to add more slowly. My question is what is the best way to change filter systems without loosing all the bacteria in my current filter. I currently have a TopFin filter assembly that has the replaceable filters and they say to replace monthly. I’ve read this is not a good idea and want to change to a different filter system (probably the kind with the sponges and replaceable media or whatever is the most recommended) Any recommendations on good filters for a 30 gallon tank? Also what is the best way to change over to the new filter system without loosing all the bacteria? I just don’t like the idea of constantly having to replace filters and loosing all bacteria. Feel like there has to be a better system out there. Thank you and glad to be a part of the forum!

 

Just keep the water moving. That is the key.

 

Just keep the water moving. That is the key.

Appreciate it. Was wondering if I need to keep the old filter in the tank for a while or something when I install the new filter system in order to keep the bacteria. I was looking at getting the AquaPure one but it’s a totally different setup so I would be using a filter without any of the bacteria I’ve built up in my current TooFin filter.

 

I'm not familiar with your filter, but is there a way you could add sponge media to you current filter? There are a bunch of you tube videos with people doing just that.
If you have to get a different filter I would just run it along with the new filter until the new one gets the bacteria going

 

I'm not familiar with your filter, but is there a way you could add sponge media to you current filter? There are a bunch of you tube videos with people doing just that.
If you have to get a different filter I would just run it along with the new filter until the new one gets the bacteria going

I can look into it. I just read that the TopFin filter was kind of a waste of money because they come with prepackaged filters that you’re supposed to change monthly since they can clog easily. So you buy into a lot of filter replacements which can get spendy and when you change you loose all that hood bacteria the filter has accumulated. The one I was looking at has sponges up top and carbon and foam down below for easy changes. Maybe I can wedge the filter in next to the sponges for a month or so.

 

You don’t need to change anything. I had that filter on one of my tanks (I don’t recommend it but I got it at a big discount at the time and have since switched to aquaclear like my other tanks) but it was running with no issue for half a year. Never replaced anything, on occasion I would wash the cartridge in tank water. Supposedly the bacteria grows on the surface of the blue plastic but you still shouldn’t replace the cartridge because there is no need.

 

You don’t need to change anything. I had that filter on one of my tanks (I don’t recommend it but I got it at a big discount at the time and have since switched to aquaclear like my other tanks) but it was running with no issue for half a year. Never replaced anything, on occasion I would wash the cartridge in tank water. Supposedly the bacteria grows on the surface of the blue plastic but you still shouldn’t replace the cartridge because there is no need.

Appreciate it. How did you go about switching over to the AquaClear filter? I like the idea of using that one much better.

 

Appreciate it. How did you go about switching over to the AquaClear filter? I like the idea of using that one much better.

So I got an Aquaclear 70 which is a huge HOB for my goldfish tank so there was a lot of room in the media area to put the new filter media from the aquaclear as well as keep the old topfin cartridge in there to seed the new media. It’s been a seamless handover, just keep an eye on parameters for the first week or so

 

So I got an Aquaclear 70 which is a huge HOB for my goldfish tank so there was a lot of room in the media area to put the new filter media from the aquaclear as well as keep the old topfin cartridge in there to seed the new media. It’s been a seamless handover, just keep an eye on parameters for the first week or so

Awesome. Glad to hear it and thanks for the info!

 

LifeAngler , welcome to the forum.

You probably have a TopFin Silentstream 30 filter.

Take a look at this link on the forum. Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Aquarium Filter Forum

It shows how to add your own media to a cartridge based filter so it's easier to keep your cycle going and not lose your beneficial bacteria.

The easiest way is to get a block foam sponge from a replacement Aquaclear 70 and cut it to size to fit inside the reservoir of the Top Fin filter.

I would also suggest to consider finding a sponge filter that runs off an air pump to use as a secondary filter.

Having a sponge filter as a back up helps to keep your cycle going if you accidently over clean the media in your HOB filter and lose too much beneficial bacteria. The sponge filter will keep your cycle going.

You can get one that uses suction cups to attach the glass, or one that sits on the substrate in the back corner. You can find them on Amazon, and the KensFish & Aquarium Co-Op websites for example.

You only need a small airpump for them .

 

In my Aquaclear filters, I just use the foam blocks from aquaclear on the bottom, and I fill the rest up with plastic pot scrubbers. I only replace the media when the flow is reduced. So I go for years without doing filter maintenance. My tanks are crystal clear.

I don't use carbon unless there is something that needs to be removed from the water.

For filters that come with carbon inserts, the carbon will clog and it will just be a place for biofilm to grow so that is OK. Just leave the insert in there until it deteriorates. No need to change it. If it gets clogged then rinse it off to keep the water flowing.

When you eventually have to put in a new filter insert, put the new one in along with the old for a month. Then remove the old one. They last for years.

 

LifeAngler , welcome to the forum.

You probably have a TopFin Silentstream 30 filter.

Take a look at this link on the forum. Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Aquarium Filter Forum

It shows how to add your own media to a cartridge based filter so it's easier to keep your cycle going and not lose your beneficial bacteria.

The easiest way is to get a block foam sponge from a replacement Aquaclear 70 and cut it to size to fit inside the reservoir of the Top Fin filter.

I would also suggest to consider finding a sponge filter that runs off an air pump to use as a secondary filter.

Having a sponge filter as a back up helps to keep your cycle going if you accidently over clean the media in your HOB filter and lose too much beneficial bacteria. The sponge filter will keep your cycle going.

You can get one that uses suction cups to attach the glass, or one that sits on the substrate in the back corner. You can find them on Amazon, and the KensFish & Aquarium Co-Op websites for example.

You only need a small airpump for them .

Very nice write-up. I ended up purchasing a Seachem Tidal 35 gallon filter setup. I went this route because it seemed to be easier to change out filtering elements without loosing the beneficial bacterial. This was of course before I read your write-up. I think I will end up removing the carbon inside the TopFin filter bag and stuffing the rest of the bag somewhere in the Tidal filter for what I hope to be a seamless transition. Im guessing before or after the bio-media. I bought the 29 gallon TopFin started tank but the more I read the more changes I make. I’ve also added a medium sized air stone with an air pump rated 20-40 gallons as I believe I wasn’t getting enough O2 back into the water from just the filter. This is all new to me but I’m definitely enjoying the process as I go.