Filter Changes And A Few Tank Related Questions

[Nifheim]

My filter is clogged the flow rate has DROPPED big time. SO I read on the pinned threads about just rinsing it out with some tank water in a bucket (don't want to over clean and make the good bacteria go bye bye) BUT when do you change a filter normally? I get the fact you should soak them in tank water for two days but when do you go "its time"

I have a 5 gal tank with a Whisper Bio-Bag Medium Cartridge and I have 10 Gal with a Penguin Bio-Wheel cartridge 100 & mini. I also am noticing I have this lovely film on the surface of the tank. I had taken some paper towles and tried to "soak" up the film but I only notice it in the 5 g tank (maybe because the filter is clogged with it)

You think the slick is caused by food I had introduced (dried blood worms) or its entirely a filter issue?

 

[backtotropical]

My filter is clogged the flow rate has DROPPED big time. SO I read on the pinned threads about just rinsing it out with some tank water in a bucket (don't want to over clean and make the good bacteria go bye bye) BUT when do you change a filter normally? I get the fact you should soak them in tank water for two days but when do you go "its time"

The time to wash your filter media is now, once the flow rate drops considerably. As you say, just rinse the gunk off the sponge, ceramic rings, whatever you have, in a bucket of tank water. You don't need to soak them in tank water for 2 days, i'm not sure what you mean by that. Rinsing the filter media should be a 5 minute job. In the bucket, quick rinse, back into the filter.

I think you are also asking when to replace the filter media with new media. The answer is only if it absolutely can't be used anymore because it is falling apart. The good bacteria which you need to keep your fish alive and healthy live on the filter media, and if you throw it away to replace it with brand new stuff, you are throwing away the bacteria which have developed, and effectively starting again.

Some filter manufacturers recommend to change the filter media at regular intervals, but this is purely a money spinner on their part, and is not the best thing for your tank.

I have a Fluval external filter which i've had for about 8 years, and i'm still running the original filter sponges.

I have a 5 gal tank with a Whisper Bio-Bag Medium Cartridge and I have 10 Gal with a Penguin Bio-Wheel cartridge 100 & mini. I also am noticing I have this lovely film on the surface of the tank. I had taken some paper towles and tried to "soak" up the film but I only notice it in the 5 g tank (maybe because the filter is clogged with it)

You think the slick is caused by food I had introduced (dried blood worms) or its entirely a filter issue?

An oily film on the water surface is a common thing. It can be caused by several things, usually proteins found in fish foods, so the new type of food could be the culprit.

To get rid of it, agitate the water surface more, use paper tissues as you have done already, and try changing foods.

Cheers

BTT

 

[Nifheim]

Ah okay sounds good just saved me a nice expensive trip to the pet store - THANK YOU! I will give it a good cleaning tomorrow and as far as a diet no more blood worms (dried) for the fish. I am adding a air pump to my 10g but i can't add it to my 5g because it has a betta and they are not too happy with all that movement and that is where my main problem is currently. SO paper towel it until it goes away - thank you again!

 

[OldMan47]

The water in the 5 gallon should be getting disturbed by flow from your filter. A betta is not as fragile as some people seem to think. My 2 bettas live in a community 120 gallon tank and a 10 gallon tank full of endlers. The community tank has a Rena XP3 running on it that will move my adult angel fish all the way across the tank. The 10 gallon endler tank has a flow that picks up the betta and blows him to the other end of the tank. He just swims out of the current and swims back next to the filter. His favorite spot in that tank is right next to that "way too strong" filter. Bettas are like any other fish, or for that matter any animal. They get stronger when they get a bit of exercise that doesn't actually cause them damage. My betta in the community tank spent his first 6 months with me in a 40 gallon breeder that uses a power head and sponge filter located at one end of the tank to filter the whole tank. That flow was moving around lots of platies and the betta used to sit right in the flow and just swim against the flow for long time periods. When he tired, he would move aside out of the main flow path.

 

[waterdrop]

very interesting OM47, I like stories like that!