Can I Change Filters?

[clancaster23]

I have a 75 gallon with about 10 cichlids and a couple others in it. The tank has been cycled and running well for about 1 1/2 months now. I bought it off of someone and fortunately didn't have to wait long for it to cycle and be ready for fish since it was still operating when I got it. It has a Rena xp2 filter with all the original filter media inside it. It all looks kind of old and crappy and I always get the feeling it isn't doing as well as it should although I have no ammonia spikes or anything like that. Was wondering if I can change all the filters at once, just half of them or just leave stuff alone? It has two sections, in the top half there's carbon in one bag and another has some kind of other media in it and it also has bio-stars in it. On the bottom half are about four thick filter pads. The canister itself on the inside is also pretty nasty looking as you can barey see inside the thing. I know I shouldn't clean that at least not with regular water but I don't want to ruin any of the exhisting bacteria or anything like that. What should I do?

 

[fatheadminnow]

If the filer media is not physically falling apart, then leave it be. Unless the filter flow rate is dramatically reduced. There really is no need to replace filter media unless it is falling apart. Also, carbon is only good for about 3 days, after which is all used up and must be removed. Personally I do not even run carbon in my filters, I just have it on hand in case of an emergency.

-FHM

 

[thefubar]

You can rinse the existing media in tank water (when you do a water change), just to get the lumps

out.

I would (and have) change the carbon bag for floss. (its probably acting as a bio filter now) as minnow said its only active carbon for a short period of time.

As for not being able to see through the plastic, as long as you can see through the aquarium glass - just keep the filter tucked away in the cupboard doing its job...it doesn't have any fish in there (hopefully

)

I maybe clean my external once every 4-6 months.

 

[grumpysteve]

if you do replace anything try and stagger it, so you're only replacing one thing at a time, leave it a couple of weeks, then change something else. but TBH you probably don't NEED to unless its falling apart