Canister Filter Foam

[bry1105]

I rinse out the corse filter foam when I do my monthly canister maintenance, but I'm getting conflicting information about how often to replace it. Some websites say to replace it every 9 weeks, others say every 9 months. I'm assuming one of the two is just a typo/mixup since they both contain the number 9. (I've got a Marineland C-360).

 

[mfdrookie516]

Replace it when it falls apart... no sooner or you're wasting money.

 

[bry1105]

Thanks! Roughly how long will that be?

 

[mfdrookie516]

I've had the sponges in my fluvals for ~2 years now and they look brand new... except the color.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Replace it when it falls apart... no sooner or you're wasting money.

+1

That includes the biomedia (biomass) that mfg will tell you to replace every 3 months, this should never be replaced since your good bacteria live/breed in it. Just rinse it out in old tank water during a PWC (same with sponges) once a month (+/-).

The only exception is carbon, if you use it (I don't unless I'm removing meds). It should be swapped out every 2 weeks or so because it can cause problems if it's left in too long.

 

[Fishguy2727]

Ditto. I still have the original foam I got with my FX5, which I got when they first came out. I have others even older and still have not replaced the foam.