Maturation of external filter

[daginge]

Hi ABers I bought an external filter for a 90ltr tank approximately two weeks ago and it has run ever since minus 8 hours when I forgot to switch it back on after weekly maintenance. Does anyone have any idea if I would be safely able to remove the existing internal filter yet? TIA

[woofgang]

can you turn off the internal filter and leave the external one running?
Do a water test, turn off the internal, test again 4 hourly and see how things are going.

[daginge]

Could do woofgang, what would I be testing for? Nitrites or Nitrates I can never remember which is the baddy!

[woofgang]

the answer is both, also ammonia useful basic info here
http://www.petco.com/...fish/WaterQuality.pdf

your test kit should also tell you what level is acceptable

[divegirl]

Hi, you're looking for NO ammonia and NO nitrITEs. A low nitrATE count is acceptable. You could also try putting mature media [a sponge or two from your old filter into the new one then it is instantly 'seeded'. I do that all the time between me and my fish keeping friends!

Lisa x

[daginge]

Thanks Woofgang, thanks Lisa, I'm going to re model the tank today it looks a bit wrecked at the minute my largest weather loach has uprooted most of the planting and trashed all the ornamental stuff. Is it best to take the fish out or leave them in while moving everything around?

[woofgang]

i would take them out if you can do so reasonably easily. If they are hard to catch or if, like me, you aren't very good at it then maybe leave them in unless you are doing a radical redesign in which case you get to practice your netting skills!!

[divegirl]

Personally I always leave my fish in on a water change, even a biggy, but then again I keep Puffer fish and don't want them to 'puff' which they are liable to do when stressed. I do have a community tank though and I leave the fish in there too, but it's a big tank so I do one end and then the other.
What fish do you have in there?

Lisa x

[daginge]

I've got a good mix, platties, cat fish, weather loaches, mollies, angels and guppies! I'm gonna leave them in and work round them somehow!

[divegirl]

Just one thing....your tank sounds excessively over stocked....you really cold do with re-homing some of the fish.How many of what fish do you have?

Lisa x

[daginge]

Quite a few overall but I carry out regular maintenance and water changes and don't lose any fish or have water quality problems!