Changing Filter Media

[Fishmanic]

35 gallon tall hex tank
 
I have an old dynaflo HOB filter. It has 10 years of use on  It and still runs great and quiet.  It uses a single filter cartridge which has carbon in it.  I have been running this filter media for 6 weeks since the start of cycling.  The cycling was completed last week and i stocked the tank at that time.
 
I need to change out the cartridge soon for a new one as the water is flowing over the cartridge and swishiing and squeezing  it in tank water didn't help much.   To preserve some of the beneficial bacteria,  I plan on putting a new cartridge right next to old one as it will fit in the slot and run it for 5 or 6 hours like that.   Hopefully some of the bacteria will get into the new filter media.  Then i'll remove the old media and run the filter with the new media.  
 
What's your opinion doing this step.   Is it  necessary or should I just take out the old cartridge and install the new one right away.  Hopefully there is enough bacteria in the gravel bed and on the tank glass to keep the tank cycled.   I did a 30% water change yesterday and want to change out the filter media in a few days.  I will be doing water changes once a week.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

So is the tank and filter properly cycled? What are your water test results if so?
Don't change filter media until it is literally falling apart in your hands.
Ditch the carbon. It's only used for removing medications and is taking up space for better media (ie;ceramics).
No beneficial bacteria grows on glass and very, very little grows on gravel. It's ALL in your filter.
Is there any particular reasoning for the 30% water change? And yes...water changes are required weekly, sometimes twice a week.
 
Terry.

 

[Fishmanic]

water change was just routine maintenance---Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate is 0.  Tank is fully cycled.   This is a flat cartridge type thin flat media filter that has a slot for the cartridge.  The carbon is layered on the cartridge.   Should I add some ceramic media in front of the cartridge? There is lmited space there so I can't add very much.   I definitely want to avoid ruining the fully cycled condition of the tank.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

As long as you keep the media that you may have 'grown' in there, there shouldn't be an issue.
A properly cycled tank will prove results of NitrAte...either you have a MASSIVELY planted tank, are doing big daily water changes OR your tank is not fully cycled.... did you see readings of ammonia, then that dropping and nitrItes rising?
 
Terry.

 

[Fishmanic]

As I said, the tank is fully cycled since about a week ago using the method posted on this site.   I just would like to change the filter media as it's getting clogged.  I just don't want to break up my cycle.    I am thinking of getting some ceramic rings and put it in the space in front of the cartridge and wait a bit for bacteria to grow on it.   Then I'll change the filter cartridge after several days.  

 

[Fishmanic]

If I put in loose ceramic media in front of the filter cartridge,  does the ceramic sink or does it float---if it floats I guess I'd have to put it in a mesh bag.

 

[fluttermoth]

Ceramic rings sink, but it's a good idea to put them in a mesh bag for easy rinsing. You'll need to keep the old cartridge in for at least six weeks after you add the ceramic so the bacteria have time to spread.

 

[Fishmanic]

Ceramic rings sink, but it's a good idea to put them in a mesh bag for easy rinsing. You'll need to keep the old cartridge in for at least six weeks after you add the ceramic so the bacteria have time to spread.

I plan on putting the ceramic so that the water goes through the regular media cartridge first and then flows through the ceramic---does this sound ok?   How often should you rinse out the ceramic (in tank water of course) ?
 
Ten years ago, the last time I used this tank,  I used to just take out the old cartridge and install the new cartridge---never used any other media---the ammonia and nitrite levels would stay negligible and fish thrived so my guess is bacteria was in the gravel and on the glass.   But I think adding the ceramic now would be beneficial as long as it doesn't cut the flow too much.   I'm considering buying an aquaclear filter as it has more media and you can just change 1/3 of the media at a time.  

 

[Fishmanic]

Well instead of messing with an underpar 20 year old filter that I presently am using,  I've decided to buy an aquaclear 50 filter as you can replace just 1/3 of the media at a time and it is more powerful than my present filter.   I will run both filters for a couple of weeks and then take some media out of the old filter and put it in the aquaclear to maintain my cycle.  

 

[fluttermoth]

I wouldn't bother running both filters. Just take all the media from your old filter (cut it up if needs be) and put it in the new one.
 
Really, apart from filter floss, you should never need to change media; ceramics and sponges last for years.

 

[Fishmanic]

once I transfer it, how long should I keep the old media in the new filter.   I plan on using the carbon media as well as the ceramic and the sponge.  How often should I change the carbon media? 

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh well, if you're using carbon, it needs changing monthly, but I honestly wouldn't bother. Carbon does not remove ammonia, nitrite or nitrate and, although it makes a good home for bacteria, it clogs easily and has to be removed if you need to medicate, so losing some of your bacteria just when you need it most. You'd be far better off with extra ceramic or sponge, IMO.
 
You need to leave the old media in for at least a month, and change no more than a quarter of it at one time.

 

[Fishmanic]

a month seems to be a long time--I put most of my old media (cut in half)  into the new aquaclear 50 which I installed on Wednesday.  I put 1/2 under the sponge and the other half on top of the carbon bag just under the ceramics---the flow seems  impeded by the extra media as the pump side overflows into the other flow side of the filter--I may take out the uppermost old media out in 2 weeks and leave the other half under the sponge for a month or perhaps longer if flow isn't restricted too much--does that sound like a plan---so far my test levels are all fine