Filter change

[Guano]

Hi so im planning to switch out my whole filter with another one that has an integrated protein skimmer in it. The one i have right now is from Aqueon (im still an amateur in this hobby).

How should i go about switching them out? do i put the new one in so it collects the necessary bacteria while the old is still on or do i just totally replace it? Thanks in advance :)

[dizzyjay]

Assuming this is a salt setup. Reuse any bio media in the canister but a straight swap should be fine. Assuming you have live rock & sand in the display there is probably enough beneficial bacteria there to seed the new canister surfaces without causing a problem. You can bolster the bacteria with dr tims or microbacter7.

[framos]

I upgraded my sump recently and decided to deep clean all my equipment and only use "some" water from my previous sump. Oh boy did I pay the price for that mistake!! that upgrade caused a small crash and I lost at least half of my corals (all SPS and some LPS). I still don't understand what exactly went wrong other than the actual sump upgrade and equipment cleaning. My assumption is I got rid of most of my beneficial bacteria from an old sump and the new sump had something that cause a mini cycle and the crash.

My advice is use as much as you can from your previous filter to make your change.