I know this is a bit of a regular topic and I have read several previous threads. I would just like to check I have got this correct. I have an Easy Crystal 300 internal filter which came with the Aqua Art 60L kit. There is a black bio filter which they say only needs an occasional clean in used tank water. Then there are the green and white floss filters which come as a replacement item( cartridge) and the instructions are to change these every 28 days.

Is the majority view that I should also only rinse these floss inserts in tank water every month or so and only replace them when they are falling apart or does this just apply to the black bio filter?

thanks

Yes, looks like perhaps you've done some good reading here on TFF? I believe your impression is very correct. Good filtration can be had without resorting to "replacement cartridges." Most experienced members use media that can be squeezed or swished in tank water to loosen and remove most of the debris, leaving the nitrifying bacteria clinging and intact on the media. Often the hard part of choosing -not- to follow the direction your filter manufacturer wants you to is the selection and fitting of media that will maintain a tight fit and retain the mechanical partical filtering.

Filter function can be divided into three parts: mechanical, chemical and biological. There are interesting details about each of these functions and the practical habits the members here have learned about each - would be glad to share more of this if there is interest but don't want to go on if you are familiar...

~~waterdrop~~

yes you are quite correct that sponges don't need to be replaced regularly.

however if these cartiridges perform a chemical filtration function then they do have a shelf life and to use them as the manufacturers intended you would need to replace them. However the most important question to ask here is do you really want or need this chemical filtration?? Some of these cartridges will proclaim to be nitrate reducing or something along those lines. Generally speaking there is little evidence that these things are really necessary at all. If you just use them as they are but don't replace them then the chemical functionality will wear off after a few days/weeks and the sponge will then just become normal bio/mech filtration.

This brings to mind a question I've been meaning to ask. Hope its okay if I use this thread instead of starting a new one about basically the same thing?


I have a penguin mini biowheel. For those that havent seen them: There is a cartridge that slides down in. Its a bit of blue plasticy material stretch over a hard plastic base with carbon or something inside. Because of how its made, there is nothing to it that I can cut off or use to clone a new filter should I want to do so. Its all one piece. Then there is my biowheel which obviously has to be left alone as well.

I've read quite a few threads about the different filter media and Im wishing I had something inside like ya'll talk about ....floss or ceramic rings or a sponge...something inside that would be easier to take bits of should I wish to do so. Is it possible to ever change the type of media that comes with a filter? Or do I really need to just buy a new filter that uses the type I'd prefer to have?

been trying to have a look for pics showing inside the filter you have lioness to see what's best. we don't really get HOB filters in the UK much.

are you actually wanting to set up another tank or just wanting to give yourself the flexibility to do so in the future?

cos what i'd suggest is when you want to set up another tank buy a filter for the new tank and run it in tandem with the bio wheel for a month, then remove the cartridge for the bio wheel and put half the floss/sponge/ceramic or whatever you have in the new filter into it's place, keep the othere half in the extra filter. then run them together for a couple more weeks, then both filters should be mature and the bio wheel would then have some 'normal' media in it so that you could clone from it much easier in the future if needs be.

Thats what I mean Miss wiggle... I can't "share" from the filter I have now. The cartridges look SIMILAR to this

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~AS3133.html

there is no way to take half of it because its on a hard plastic frame...if I were to cut through the plastic..then it wouldnt fit right.


I also dont think this filter would run right if I added anything to it...its pretty touchy IMO

yeah it'd just have to be a case of running filters in tandem to colonise some new media, then putting the new media in to replace the cartridge