Changing Filter Sponge HELP :+)

[1FatFish]

I am going to need to change my filter sponge soon. It's an aquaclear 500.
Questions is, I know I am NOT suppose to just drop in a new one since the old one has all the 'good' bacteria in it. How do I go about changing my sponge then? Please help.

Thank you all,
Richie

 

[Cafe Jeff]

Why change?
Give it a rinse in water taken from the aquarium, and pop back in. Or if it simply must go, see if you can't run the old and new side by side for a while. Failing that, cut both the new and old one into two and stuff both the new and old one in. It's a valuable colony you've grown on your sponge. I wouldn't want to let it be lost. Jeff

 

[BrianNY]

Exactly as Cafe Jeff says!!!

 

[1FatFish]

Thank you.

I just thought that every so often the filter has to be changed. Say every 5 months or so.
When the time comes I will just cut it in 2 like you reccomended.

By the way, I should have no problems just swapping out the carbon media etc right?

Regards,
Richie

 

[An t-iasg]

The carbon can simply be thrown away and replaced. It won't hurt your good bacteria. I don't run carbon every day, so I'm not sure when to replace it. If you're not using it to remove medicines, I would say every week or two, or whenever the water loses that "crystal clear" look. If the water looks yellowish, then the carbon is definitely old!

 

[urville]

you know i cant even tell my water is yellow till i pour it out.
i agree also with jeff. in fact if you start a new tank you can bring a handful of substrate and/or part of an establihed filter media and it will seed your tank like crazy i feel if this is done right you can close to having bio spira, very mini cycle, and it works at least as fast as fishless cycling.

 

[cginflorida]

I think with carbon, if you let it stay in too long it actually starts putting bad stuff back into the water. Change it about every 4 weeks, minimum. I only run carbon when I'm having a water problem. It also removes meds from the water, but luckily I haven't needed it for that yet.

 

[1FatFish]

I have 3 things in my filter.

1 sponge
1 bag with white rocks
1 bag with black rocks

What do they black and white rocks do?
Do I need them in their ??

Thank you all..

Richie

 

[deeni0z]

i'm thinking the white rocks are zeolite. zeolite removes ammonia. i think the black might be carbon. carbon removes odors, heavy metals, and medication.