Cleaning Juwel Rekord 70?

[Declan]

Hi,

I put the title in that way so you would help me as much as possible *cheeky I know*

Anywho, I have a Juwel Rekord 70, and I do a weekly water change of 25 - 30% and every other week I clean all of the filter sponges in tank water I have siphoned out, all of my fish *see sig* are fine, no signs of illness, besides Ich *which im treating*.

Well, is how I am doing it at the moment OK? Do I need to clean the media less, maybe even more? Could I get away with cleaning them less?

Thanks, D.

 

[AdAndrews]

you are doing fine, i usually do 30% every 2 weeks, have u got a liquid test kit?

 

[Truck]

i dont think there si any real need for cleaning media seeing as you change white every week and black every month etc

 

[Declan]

i dont think there si any real need for cleaning media seeing as you change white every week and black every month etc

I have had the tank going for nearly 4 months now, and I havent changed the white or black filter once, is that really bad? Should I do it as soon as possible?

Also, yes I do have a liquid test kit, everything is fine.. A -- 0, Ni -- 0, Na -- 5

Thanks, D.

 

[Truck]

your meant to change the white one every week and the black one every monthe then the blue one evry 6 weeks and the green one every 3 months.

your meant to buy the monthly pack which contains 4 whites and 1 black there about 2.95 pounds

 

[Declan]

your meant to change the white one every week and the black one every monthe then the blue one evry 6 weeks and the blue one every 3 months.

your meant to buy the monthly pack which contains 4 whites and 1 black there about 2.95 pounds

$HIT!!!! I know my LFS is open today, I will leave ASAP..need parents to get home..

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!

D.

P.S. Is there anything else I need to do?

 

[Truck]

no not really just keep up with the wtare changes and gravel vac

 

[minxfishy]

OK, dont panic, you only need to change the floss part regularly, the actual sponges, can be kept for years, they just need cleaning out every now and again, as you already do in tank water. The only reason to change the sponges is if they are starting to come apart and then you dont do them all at once.

I believe in the juwel, the black sponge is carbon? You dont need this sponge at all unless you need to remove meds and if you are treating for ich you should have removed this sponge already.

The only reason juwel (or any other manufacturer for that that matter) tell you to change the sponges every couple of weeks is money, they make more of it when you buy more sponges.

 

[Declan]

I havent taken it out yet?

Should I do it now?

Will it affect the meds, and how they work?

D.

 

[minxfishy]

You should remove carbon from the filter before adding any meds or the carbon will remove the meds (hence the reason you only need it to remove meds), however, it only have a certain lifespan where it actually does anything, so if its been running for a while, then its probably not effected the treatment, but I would take it out, then re-dose with meds after a 30% water change to be on the safe side, then continue the meds are directed.

 

[Declan]

OK then when my parents get home I will go to my LFS and get the monthly pack, which I have checked they have in stock @£5.95 *expensive?* And then when I get back I will do a 30% water change, change the media, remove the carbon, and re- treat them..

What should I do with the carbon I take out?

D.

 

[minxfishy]

Unless your sponges are in a serious state of disrepair, save yourself some money and just get a new black sponge for after you have finished medication.

The black carbon sponge you take out, just throw it away, its past its usefulness. Then when meds are finished, put a new black on in to remove the rest of the meds.

Honestly the only regular sponge you need to change is the fine white sponge onthe top, which takes out the fine particles in the water, the rest just need monthly rinsing in used tank water.

 

[AdAndrews]

they say u need to change white every week- 3 weeks is fine and the carbon in black sponge will be gone after a month so its not really doing anything

 

[flash22]

juwels are easy to look after change the white every 2-3 weeks carbon every 8-9 weeks (unless you treating with meds ect) and the others just need a clean in old tank water your save a fortune

tip. for the white floss you can by a big sheet of pond filter floss for 3 quid and just cut it shape your get 15-20 sponges out of a sheet easy

water change wise 10-30% every 10-14 days with a vac. A proper clean once a month (or when you think it needs it) works for me.

 

[Honeythorn]

There's no need to completely change any sponges ( but if you are treating with meds then do remove the black carbon one as it will stop the meds from working by removing them ) . They last years and despite what the packaging tells you, unless a sponge is literally falling apart there is no need to change it. If you take all the sponges out and replace them you will destroy the biological cycle in the tank. The company only tells you to change the sponges as they are relying on you to know nothing and simply go out and buy more each month. It's a money ploy and nowt more.

Just take out the carbon ( black ) one and replace it with either another white sponge, or if they will fit, some ceramic media ( more surface area for bacteria ) . You also don't need to rinse your sponges every week. Only when the flow starts to slow a bit on the filter, then you should wash one of the sponges like you do currently in a bucket of used tankwater.