filter & filter media

Hello! I got a new sponge filter for my betta in his 10 gal as he didn’t like the flow of my HOB. I was wondering if there was any way to reliably transfer beneficial bacteria without having to run them both for a month together? I have been doing that, but my little man really doesn’t like the...

What are the uses of afragog in an aquarium beyond having a large surface area for bacteria? I remember reading it last time and deciding to add it to my tank; however, now I can not find any information about it. Is there anyone else that uses it in their aquariums/filters?

Hello all. I haven't been in the Aquatic hobby for long and as I'm doing my research I am getting hung up on filter media. Here's what I know so far... or what I think I know. Please feel free to constructively correct me. The order should be the following based on water flow pattern of...

What is filter media? Is it the sponge part of the filter? Inside my filter is a piece to hold the bag, that has a sponge. The bag itself is really gross looking, even after cleaning so I guess that's just normal. It has little pieces of coal in it. My filter is a regular, hang on the back. I...

I currently have a 20 gallon. It's stocked with 9 harlequin rasboras (they've been there for a little over month), a male Betta (2 weeks), and as of this morning, 2 female guppies (not even a full 24 hours). The male guppy who accompanied the females was tragically crushed under the brand new...

Rocks with bacteria - $7 each Various Plants ($ depends on the plant) - SOLD Driftwood - $15 Heater - $20 Pinguin 350 Filter - $45 Filter Media - $4 each Air Stone - $6 - SOLD Air Pump - $17

Hi. I'm new to the forum and would like some advice on whether it's safe to clean Juwel filter media or whether I should always buy new as per the Juwel instructions. I currently change the white filter wadding weekly and the carbon sponge monthly and I'm wondering if I can get away with...

Hey guys, I recently got a new (second hand) tank (Aqua one Lifestyle 76L) that I bought very spontaneously from somebody. It has a built-in filter but unfortunately, it didn't come with its carbon cartridge or sponge. I've had to order its replacement parts online and I'm a bit taken aback by...

Hi guys, first of all I know Biorbs are a very controversial choice but if I could get some advice on the following things that would be great! First of all, filters… Biorb recommends changing the entire filter disc every 4 weeks. Instead, I am thinking of buying a new filter every few weeks...

i have a hob filter which i have never changed the filter media in. i’ve been doing research and i’m wanting to switch the media to a sponge so i won’t need to buy new ones and so that my tannins won’t be filtered out. my question, however, is how? should i put the sponge in the filter, leave it...

Hi! I have a 20 gallon tank with 3 mollies, 3 platys, a BN pleco, and nerite snails. I usually siphon the tank every week and my filter is the one that came with a tank. (Its either Tetra or Aqueon). Recently I found fry in my tank. There were only two left by the time I found them, but I moved...

I’ve had my tank up and running for about 6 weeks ish. Just put some fish and 2 shrimp in a couple of days ago. I was told on here not to change my filter cartridge yet but it’s looking very brown! I did try to clean it in the old tank water but it seems pretty hard to clean compared to other...

Hi guys, Hopefully "Cycling" is the right forum as I'm hoping to prevent a new cycle. I have a fully cycled 20 gallon tank running at the moment and the first fish are in there. However, it's running an internal filter that came with the tank and I hate everything about it - it takes up a heap...

Newbee question.. Just splashing out ona 240l tank and cabinet... Question is.. Do I go for a heater and filter included or do I get separates.. I keep reading both sides but am unsure.. Just there's no points buying a set to find the output on the filters rubbish or that I need more juice in...

Hello! The filter on my 29gal tank just broke. It’s the type of filter that goes on the side of the tank (Fluval AquaClear). I don’t have another at home, so while I wait to get a new one tomorrow, should I keep my filter media? And if so, how/where do I store it? I don’t want to throw it all...

So. Filters, right? I have a couple of questions regarding them. It's been about a month now of me unsuccessfully attempting to cycle my new 10 gallon tank, and I've had my filter running the entire time. It's an Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter, and of course has the appropriate media...

Hi all, I have a few filter quandaries and could really use some advice. I currently have 2 Juwel tanks (120L and 110L) and use the eccoflow 500 filters that came with it. I also set up the spongers as shown in their instructions. Both filters have started stalling a bit, one a lot more than...

Hi, although I am still new this hobby and my aquarium 70l (19 gallon) tropical aquarium is mid cycle, I am putting thought into getting a new filter. I currently have the juwel bioflow one which is quite bulky, has poor surface agitation and only allows for regular mechanical filtration (no...

Do I have to get it all out and wash it all (thats what i do) or just wash the sponge inside the filter?

Well, this may not seem like a newbie question but it is ;) I have done a bit of reading on tropical tanks recently, and to 'clean & polish' a tank I read that diatom filters were amazing. I have a bit of cloudy water, and recent additions seems to shows some spot which appear to be ich. I have...

How do you know bacteria is in my filter, where does it live in/how do i get them?

I have an easy crystal filter box 600 from tetra that came with my tank. The care instructions aay the pad should he taken out and changed every four weeks and that bacteria grows on something else inside the filter called a biological grid I know that a lot of people say not to change roads...

Hi all, I'm a first-time poster here. I had a small 20 gallon tank with a handful of fish several years ago, but am just now getting into the hobby with both feet. This weekend, I purchased a used 75 gallon system locally. Everything is in excellent condition, except the previous owner had...

Looking for some advise, going to be re setting up my 180 Liter tank in the next few months and am looking for some suggestions on external canisters. Tanks going to be planted and stocked with tetras, apistogramma's and corys. Was lookng at a Fluvel FX4 but am thinking the flow rate will be a...

Hey everyone! I’m new here and I’m not sure if this is the right location for this topic, but I am moving soon and need some pointers on how to go about moving my 60 gallon goldfish tank. It is a 60 gallon marineland heartland tank& stand with 3 goldfish, and I am running a fluval FX4 filter...

I’ve had this filter on my new tank for about a month and it’s clogged twice. I have been told not to replace the filter yet because I haven’t gotten my tank established. So, I’ve been “swishing” it in water I removed from the tank at a cleaning. This last time the filter didn’t unclog and the...

I was recently linked a video on how to improve a Topfin 10 filter and am going to make improvements on my Topfin 20 filter after I eliminate the ammonia and nitrite from my tank. Does anyone have any personal experience with improving the Topfin 20 filter? What products did you use? I am...

Hi I have my first fish in my new tank, fish and plants doing well ammonia is 0 nitrite is 0 nitrate is 40 ppm. over the last couple of day, I have noticed that the water has become cloudy, the fish have been in 4 days so tonight I have cleaned the glass and cleaned the gravel and the top filter...

I have a fluval 2 u series and wondering what' the best filter and media to use. My water is a little bit green looking through the side of the tank. And filter not collecting all debris as there is small particals floating and fish waste at the bottom of the tank. Wondering if I need to change...

So i figured out that although "HOS" (Hang on Side) filters do an good job, nevertheless today or tomorrow their pump gets burned. I lost two expnesive filters where my pump got burned and all my bacteria dead. Now that is firstly due to poor maintenance. Further there is an option that you can...