It can. If you still have the old filter, run it along side the new filter. Eventually the bacteria will colonize the new filter. If the tank's large enough, just run both filters at the same time permanently-generally won't hurt anything, and I always recommend running 2 filters on tanks over 30 gallons.
If for some reason you can't run both filters, then use some of the filter media from the old one in the new one. That'll help as well.
Regardless of what you do, just monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels for awhile.
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