Filter media/cartridges

[New2me]

Hi, I haven't posted before and am new to this but could someone please help....I have cycled my 60Litre freshwater tank with two platties in the last 6 weeks, all without any probs so far?! I do weekly water changes, fish seem happy, look bright active etc. Now when, if at all, do I change my filter media/cartridge? I have herd numerous answers to this however my thought is if I have spent the last 6 weeks building this fabulous bacteria I do not want to throw 1/3 (1cartridge at a time?) of it away (slim Marina HOB filter holds 3 media cartridges) just as I am about to add another couple of fish ?!?! I know there are many places in my tank these friendly colonies are growing but please advise and thanks for reading my ramblings.

 

[Horsegirlmaddy]

For the most part, you should just rinse out the cartridges in the aquarium water that you remove with the water changes. Everyone does it differently, but I rinse half of the sponges (I have two filters running on my main tank, so I rinse 2 or 3 o the 6 sponges there are between the two filters) each time I do a water change (so once a week or every second week), change out the carbon every two months or so, and replace one foam cartridge every few months.

 

[New2me]

Excellent, thanks....pet shop wanted me to change all filter cartridges every month!!! £££!

 

[Horsegirlmaddy]

A lot of pet shops and filter manufacturers recommend changing the cartridges every two weeks even!! That's costly, uneccessary, and harmful to the bacteria colonies! But it's all about making money, right?

 

[Dutchz]

Even the smart companies like aqueon say 2-3 weeks before being replaced. I change when needed and actually usually don't run carbon unless water has a tint and use mechanical sponge and rinse very often.

 

[Tetra1990]

Even the smart companies like aqueon say 2-3 weeks before being replaced. I change when needed and actually usually don't run carbon unless water has a tint and use mechanical sponge and rinse very often.

Even the smart companies are in it to make money. I rinse my media every month or so. Also, don't change media until it just about falls apart.

 

[Dutchz]

I don't even use there media I usually pack my own carbon and use aqua clear sponges.

 

[New2me]

Thanks, I think I will rinse mine as it's been in for 6 weeks and looks v grubby! Don't know anything about carbon?? Water is good at the moment, don't think I need it?! P.S Yes all these companies would have you spending till the cows come home regardless of the consequences for your fish it seems!!

 

[Dutchz]

Carbon is the black stuff in the filter cartridges that makes the water crystal clear and removes organics.

 

[Horsegirlmaddy]

And removes all the yucky smells

 

[Dutchz]

Yup you got it.

 

[Zimmanski]

I have a marine land 350 that has 4 cartridges and I replace 2 of them whenever they just look gross, I put the newest ones closest to the filter outlet and have no problems at all loosing the BB

 

[Dutchz]

Yeah my filter has tons of bb so I do not worry about them and with the mechanical sponges if you rinse every other day our so you can not let bb grow there but on your bio media.

 

[New2me]

Excellent, thanks v much! X

 

[Dutchz]

Just keep washing the sponge.

 

[DavidAl]

I don't even use there media I usually pack my own carbon and use aqua clear sponges.

Bingo! You can shape sponge media to fit just about any type of filter. That's one of the reasons I like the Aquaclear line of filters. Heck, I can't remember the last time I purchased filter media.

Some manufacturers will recommend changing the filter media often; after all, it is a source of revenue for them. I suspect they know it's not necessary, and that it may actually cause more harm than good. When a fishkeeper goes through a rough time and calls the manufacturer because their fish are dying, they'll just recommend another needless product. This applies to fish stores across the nation, too. You would think it's in their long term interest to make sure every fishkeeper succeeds, but their very recommendations contradicts that.

Fish stores dedicated to aqaurists are quite different than the big box stores, as far as advice goes. And many manufacturers actually do have knowledgeable representatives willing to help: Seachem is one of them.

David

 

[New2me]

Is that every water change? Rinse in the tank water (in a bucket) hadn't realised it wasn't supposed to grow bb? Thanks

 

[Dutchz]

I don't know I just do it this way. You really should put it in front of bio media and catch debris.

 

[New2me]

I have another question!! What about my gravel.....I understand this is another huge surface area for BB so when should I vac it? How much at a time? And how often?? As my tank is 6 weeks old...everything is looking like it needs done but don't want to start major clean up all at once incase I trigger a mini cycle just as I am ready to add my cory's (v excited!!!!)
Wanted to get 3 this week (propose to have 6 in total but don't want to add at same time incase I overload new system) thanks again for listening/reading....so glad to b part of this forum

 

[Zimmanski]

I have another question!! What about my gravel.....I understand this is another huge surface area for BB so when should I vac it? How much at a time? And how often?? As my tank is 6 weeks old...everything is looking like it needs done but don't want to start major clean up all at once incase I trigger a mini cycle just as I am ready to add my cory's (v excited!!!!)
Wanted to get 3 this week (propose to have 6 in total but don't want to add at same time incase I overload new system) thanks again for listening/reading....so glad to b part of this forum

More bb is in your filter media than your substrate, and using a gravel vac won't disturb your bb enough to notice. Also, if you're adding juvenile Cory's or small Cory's you should be fine adding six at once, but as always just watch your parameters.