Bettafanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just need a second opinion on this.
So today I finally got the plants for my new 38 gallon build. HURRAY!!! So I started cycling today with pure ammonia, and to help seed the bacteria I wanted to get some filter media from another tank to help out. Since the only other cycled freshwater tanks of mine are my 2.5 gallon betta tanks, I snipped a quarter off of the filter pads (they're super tiny for an Azoo Palm Filter) and stuck them in the filter in my new tank.
Now that I've cut a piece off the pads in both filters, the pads have begun to fall apart and there's a sufficient portion of water going through uncleaned. I decided that it was time to change the filter pads.
Now I know that changing it too quickly causes a mini cycle, and I care about my little precious bettas too much to allow it! So my course of action is to stick the new media in with the old and put the new media in front of of the old so that the beneficial bacteria has a chance to populate on the new pad. I plan to leave it there for about 2-4 weeks and then I'll take out the old media. Is this a good course of action? I just wanted a second opinion on this to make sure I'm doing it right, since I've never replaced the pads in my betta tanks yet.
Now, I just have one more question. The filter pad that came with my filter for my 38 gallon build contains carbon in it. I don't really know what this means, but I've heard that carbon needs to be changed often. Obviously, I can't change the filter pad every 2 weeks. What should I do about the carbon in the filter pad? If I just leave it after it needs changing, will it pollute my water?
Thank you!
So today I finally got the plants for my new 38 gallon build. HURRAY!!! So I started cycling today with pure ammonia, and to help seed the bacteria I wanted to get some filter media from another tank to help out. Since the only other cycled freshwater tanks of mine are my 2.5 gallon betta tanks, I snipped a quarter off of the filter pads (they're super tiny for an Azoo Palm Filter) and stuck them in the filter in my new tank.
Now that I've cut a piece off the pads in both filters, the pads have begun to fall apart and there's a sufficient portion of water going through uncleaned. I decided that it was time to change the filter pads.
Now I know that changing it too quickly causes a mini cycle, and I care about my little precious bettas too much to allow it! So my course of action is to stick the new media in with the old and put the new media in front of of the old so that the beneficial bacteria has a chance to populate on the new pad. I plan to leave it there for about 2-4 weeks and then I'll take out the old media. Is this a good course of action? I just wanted a second opinion on this to make sure I'm doing it right, since I've never replaced the pads in my betta tanks yet.
Now, I just have one more question. The filter pad that came with my filter for my 38 gallon build contains carbon in it. I don't really know what this means, but I've heard that carbon needs to be changed often. Obviously, I can't change the filter pad every 2 weeks. What should I do about the carbon in the filter pad? If I just leave it after it needs changing, will it pollute my water?
Thank you!
