Elite 15 Filter Cartridges

[grammaton]

I am new to this and I have read most of the topics. I just have a question about my filter the elite 15. I am getting hardly no readings on the ammonia front but is this due to filter cartridges? If so should I change them and place foam inside them instead? Also I have been cycling fishless since last saturday and should I change it to foam now? or is the filter ok for my tank. I have a 60 litre tropical tank.
Thanks

 

[fifefish]

okay couple of quick questions.
are you adding any ammonia to the tank or are you filtering through an established filter foam?
what wattage of lighting are you using
and what is the Litres per hour of the filter?

 

[grammaton]

okay couple of quick questions.
are you adding any ammonia to the tank or are you filtering through an established filter foam?
what wattage of lighting are you using
and what is the Litres per hour of the filter?

Sorry I have taken a long time to respond but cycling my tank is very time consuming to a newbee like me. I am adding ammonia, homebase. Its not an established filter but a new elite stingray 15. Wattage of light is 15watt and as per website the litres per hour is 300. One other question should I take out the carbon/zeolite cartridges and replace them with foam media?
Thanks

 

[pippoodle]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

 

[grammaton]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

Brilliant. Thanks for the advice. I will buy some foam media. One other thing how often do I change/wash the foam?
Thanks

 

[pippoodle]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

Brilliant. Thanks for the advice. I will buy some foam media. One other thing how often do I change/wash the foam?
Thanks

just take the filter out once and month and rinse the main sponges in TANK water and then the following month rinse the cartridge replacement sponges in tank water (during your weekly water change ) i do it that way alternate months

 

[Truck]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

Brilliant. Thanks for the advice. I will buy some foam media. One other thing how often do I change/wash the foam?
Thanks

just take the filter out once and month and rinse the main sponges in tap water and then the following month rinse the cartridge replacement sponges in tank water (during your weekly water change ) i do it that way alternate months

tap water!!!??? you should do it in tank water

 

[pippoodle]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

Brilliant. Thanks for the advice. I will buy some foam media. One other thing how often do I change/wash the foam?
Thanks

just take the filter out once and month and rinse the main sponges in tap water and then the following month rinse the cartridge replacement sponges in tank water (during your weekly water change ) i do it that way alternate months

tap water!!!??? you should do it in tank water

i meant tank water - just head doesnt always type what i want it to

 

[nosoup4you]

 

[grammaton]

i remove all the cartridges from my stingrays and replce them from sponge - generic ones from ebay that i can cut to shape
mine always run with sponges only and are perfect

Brilliant. Thanks for the advice. I will buy some foam media. One other thing how often do I change/wash the foam?
Thanks

just take the filter out once and month and rinse the main sponges in tap water and then the following month rinse the cartridge replacement sponges in tank water (during your weekly water change ) i do it that way alternate months

tap water!!!??? you should do it in tank water

i meant tank water - just head doesnt always type what i want it to

You guys are great. Thanks for the sound advice. Just one more question. Once I place the foam inside filter will this delay the cycling process?
Thanks

 

[nosoup4you]

Do not swap all of your media out at once. It will effectively un-cycle your tank. If there is room, you can add in the sponges alongside your existing media for a few weeks and then change out the cartridges one at a time.

 

[grammaton]

Do not swap all of your media out at once. It will effectively un-cycle your tank. If there is room, you can add in the sponges alongside your existing media for a few weeks and then change out the cartridges one at a time.

I have changed both cartridges with foam sponges. My cycle has been only going for a week so I don't mind starting my cycle again. I also still have a high ammonia reading. Should I do a 20% water change or just leave everything and play the waiting game?
Thanks

 

[fatheadminnow]

How high is your ammonia reading, and what test kit are you using?

-FHM

 

[grammaton]

How high is your ammonia reading, and what test kit are you using?

-FHM

My readings at present are 7.0 and I am using nutrafin mini master kit. I put in 3ml last tuesday evening. I used the chart on this forum

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would do a little water change to get it down to at least 6.

At 8ppm, we actually start colonizing a different type of bacteria, not the bacteria we need.

So 7 is gettign awfully close to 8, so do a water change to get it down to at least 6.

-FHM