LiberalFishLover
Mon Nov 22, 2004, 06:11 PM
I am curious to find out how one cycles a canister filter. Since a canister filter is essentially a forced current biological filter (with the little good bugs living on the filter medium). When one has to change or declog the filter medium, how can this be done without
1) killing all the good bugs that cycle the aquarium water
2) killing all the fish in the aquarium because the new filter medium has not been colinized by friendly bacteria and therefore cannot break down or de-pollute the aquarium water
I can only speculate that the choices available are to change only a portion of the filter medium at any one time therefore leaving enough bacteria to recolinize within an acceptable time frame or setting up a parallel filter to keep the aquarium in shape whilst the new medium develops its biological capacity.
I would be grateful for peoples thoughts on this matter
Colm
1) killing all the good bugs that cycle the aquarium water
2) killing all the fish in the aquarium because the new filter medium has not been colinized by friendly bacteria and therefore cannot break down or de-pollute the aquarium water
I can only speculate that the choices available are to change only a portion of the filter medium at any one time therefore leaving enough bacteria to recolinize within an acceptable time frame or setting up a parallel filter to keep the aquarium in shape whilst the new medium develops its biological capacity.
I would be grateful for peoples thoughts on this matter
Colm