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You’re probably aware of how important bacteria is in a fish tank. It breaks down toxic ammonia into nitrites, and then the nitrites into nitrates which are much less toxic. A lot of this beneficial bacteria in your fish tank will be on the filter, so whenever you change your filter, you want to make sure you retain as much of the bacteria as possible.

The first thing you want to consider is whether or not your filter actually needs replacing. The filter itself won’t need replacing unless it literally doesn’t work, and the media will only need replacing if it is falling apart. And if you need a more powerful filter, you’re better off keeping your current filter and adding a smaller, secondary filter.

If you do need to replace your aquarium filter, the important thing is to keep the media from your old filter in the tank with your new filter for about a month. You can either keep the whole unit in there, or just the media. Another option is to simply use the media from your old filter in the new filter.

Why Is It Important to Prevent Bacteria Loss?

You might already be aware of the importance of beneficial bacteria in a fish tank, but if not, here’s a quick explanation.

Waste from your fish and uneaten food releases ammonia into the water. This ammonia is lethal to your fish. Beneficial bacteria breaks ammonia down into nitrites, and nitrites into nitrates which are less toxic. And then when you perform a water change, many of the nitrates are removed, keeping the water safe for your fish.

Your aquarium filter provides a great environment for bacteria to grow, so when you need to replace the filter, you want to keeps as much bacteria in your tank as possible.

Do You Need to Change the Filter?

There’s a good chance that you don’t actually need to replace your filter or filter media. Many filter manufacturers will recommend changing the media every month or so. Except for chemical filters, this isn’t necessary. The reason manufacturers recommend this is so you spend more money on replacement filter media. As long as the media isn’t falling apart, it won’t need replacing. Instead, give it a thorough rinse once per month in tank water.

Another reason you might think you need a new filter is if your current filter is too small for your tank. In this case, I would actually recommend keeping your current filter and running another small filter along side it. This way you won’t lose the bacteria, but also, if one of the filters stops working, you will have a backup. Another advantage is that you can use one of the old filters that is already colonised with bacteria to get a new tank started more quickly.

Ideally, you don’t want to change your filter, but obviously if your filter has stopped working, you will need to replace it. The rest of this guide will help you with that.

3 Ways to Change a Filter Without Losing Bacteria

There are three ways you can change a filter without losing bacteria. The main thing is to keep the older filter media in your fish tank for a month or so with the new filter.

Option 1

The first option is to leave the old filter in place along side the new filter for a month. This will give time for the new filter to be colonised with bacteria. One thing to watch out for is the flow caused by the filters. If they are creating too much of a flow that it is disturbing your fish, turn down the settings on the filters if you have that option, or you can baffle the filters with filter pads. Unless the old filter is broken or the flow is too strong, it’s a good idea to leave both filters in permanently. If you don’t want to do this, you can remove the old filter after about a month.

Option 2

The second option is to put the media from your old filter into the new filter. The media is where a lot of the bacteria resides. Obviously this will only work if the filter media is the same size and shape for both filters. And of course, this method won’t work if the filter media is falling apart.

Option 3

If your old filter is broken and the media from your old filter doesn’t fit in the new filter, the third option is to place the media from your old filter in the tank next to the new filter. This will allow the new filter to be colonised with bacteria. After a month or so you can remove the old filter media.

Conclusion

Unless your filter is broken or physically falling apart, you probably don’t need to change it. If you need some more filtering power, you’re better off keeping the old filter and running it alongside another small filter. If you really do need to change the filter, to prevent bacteria loss, make sure you keep the old filter media in the tank for about a month.

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Guppies are beautiful, hardy fish that are very easy to keep alive. They are not very picky when it comes to their environment and generally do not require much overall care.

That being said, it’s natural to wonder whether it is necessary to have a filter for your guppies or if you can go without one. In this article, we will go over everything you need to know in order to make the right decision.

Generally speaking, guppies do not need a filter. Guppies range in size between just 1.5 cm and 6 cm. Their small size limits the amount of food they need to consume and therefore reduces the waste that they create as well.

• Filtration
• Tank Size
• Tank Accessories
• Other fish

Filtration

Fish waste is one of the biggest reasons to have a filter in your fish tank, however, since guppies do not create much waste you shouldn’t ever need to buy one.

While guppies may not need a filter, there are always benefits to having one in your fish tank. One of the biggest benefits is that filters help to keep the water clean and reduces the need for regular water changes.

If you are going to provide a filter for your guppies, it is highly recommended to buy one that is fairly small and does not disturb the overall environment. In the wild, guppies are usually found in slow-moving waters like ponds, lakes, and rivers so they typically do not prefer strong currents. 

Filters that are too strong can also be dangerous for your guppies. If the filter produces too strong of a current, your guppies may end up getting caught in the filter, and we all know how that goes. 

Tank Size

Guppies are fun and playful swimmers, so in order to keep them happy and keep your tank clean, you will want to make sure to provide them with enough space.

Although they are small, it is recommended to have only about 5 guppies per 10-gallon aquarium, especially if you are not providing a filter. Smaller tanks will naturally build up waste much quicker than larger tanks, so it is important to consider this when setting up your tank.

Tank Accessories

Another thing to consider when it comes to providing a filter for your guppies is what other accessories will be housed with them. Guppies love plants and adding them into your aquarium always makes it more fun to look at.

While any fish usually prefers the natural feel of real plants, they are also okay with settling with the fake ones. The only downside to fake plants is that they easily build up algae over time.

Algae is not necessarily bad for your fish tank, as long as it is kept to a minimal level. Too much algae can reduce the oxygen and nutrients in your tank, which could potentially kill your fish when overexposed.

If you are going to provide an ample amount of fake plants, this may be another reason to consider adding a small filter for your guppies. If you are not wanting to purchase a filter and are still wanting to add accessories, you can also take them out to clean yourself when they become too overgrown with algae. 

Other fish

One of the last things to consider is whether your fish tank is going to house only guppies or other fish as well. A fish tank that only has guppies doesn’t need a filter but a fish tank with other fish most likely does.

As mentioned, guppies do not create very much waste in their aquariums, but that may not be the case with other fish. Just because a fish is small does not mean that it will be as clean as guppies are.

If you are going to house your guppies with other fish, adding a small filter is most likely going to be the best choice. If a filter is not an option for you, it is probably better to only stick with guppies.

As long as you are able to assess all these aspects of your fish tank, deciding whether you want to add a filter or not should be a fairly easy choice.

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