Hi all--I finally received the Emperor 280 filter for my 20 gallon tank! The tank has only been up and running a few weeks and is not finished cycling--the ammonia levels are barely beginning to rise (at 0.5 ppm today, up from constant 0.25 ppm last week) and still no detectable nitrites.

My question is regarding the bio-bag that was in the Whisper 20. I took it out to clean the old filter box and noticed that at the air/water interface there was a line of brown approximately two inches wide. Does this contain the beneficial bacteria for biological filtration? I added that bio-bag to my Emperor 280 in addition to the filter cartride it came with, is this appropriate?

I don't know what the brown is exactly, but I've seen that on mine too. It might be the bacteria, but they're usually whitish I think, so it might just be food and poo that got stuck on it.

You've done exactly what I would do to change to a new filter... I think that's what most people recommend.

Well, even if it's not the bacterial at least I did the right thing! My fish noticed the new filter though and spent a long time investigating the intake. I had no idea they would be so curious! Thanks May :-)