changing power filter media?

[feinhorn]

How do you know when to change the floss type media in your power filter. Seems like everytime I change it or even clean it in tank water I get a spike in my ammonia. So they are replacable but seems like you should not change them. ???

 

[Guest]

You should change it when you notice a flow problem or every couple weeks, depending on your bio-load. Change only half of the floss at the time. This will cut down on the ammonia spike. When you change all of the media at once, you take out essential bacteria and it has to build up again. If you change half, the bacteria moves from one side to the next and so on and so forth..

 

[loganj]

What kind of filter do you have?