FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Just a quick question: Can you install a filter with the fish in the aquarium or do you have to remove them? If so, how long?


Thankz

Inky

well, i would turn the filter off, and pull the filter, cause if you dont, all the crap trapped in the filter will spew into the tank and clog the fishes gills and induce shock i would assume. now, is this a brand new filter you are putting in? watch your tanks nitrate and ammonia levels after you put the new filter in, without the ammonia disolving bacteria that was in your old filter, nitrate and ammonia levels will spike.

Hi,
The answer to your question kinda depends upon what kind
of filter you are installing.

If you have decided to add a UGF then you would need to
remove the fish, all of the water down below the surface
of the substrate by digging a hole down to the glass
and siphoning off the water.

If you are installing an inside corner filter, clean an
area and set the filter in place.
If you are installing a HOB or Canister, simply prefill
the filter body with water as well as any tubes and then
set in place and turn it on.

If you are replacing one kind of filter with another, then
isolate the intake by removing the intake tube from the
tank, and let the filter run till the output "sputters"
then turn off the motor and remove the old one.

If you are just adding a filter to a "filterless" tank,
then follow the directions that came with your filter,
for proper placement of the filter media, fill the filter
box with water (prefill it) and then set it up and turn it
on. Once on, if you have an adjustable output set it so
that the output does not cause disruptive currents in the
tank making the fish have to swim against current all the
time.
Hope this helps...
Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 15-Dec-2005 09:43

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

One additional comment in conjunction with what's already been mentioned.

If you're switching between filters be sure that you either transfer the filter media from the old filter to the new filter, or you run both filters together for 3 to 4 weeks to fully establish the bacterial colonies on the new filter before removing the old filters.
This will help reduce any minicycles.

^_^
[hr width='40%'][/font]

It would be a new filter...

Inky

Frank was asking what type/brand/size of filter are you thinking about.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop &amp; Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW