smdnh
New Member
I have a pretty good concept of the chemistry and bacteriology involved with cycling a tank and keeping it cycled, but am seeking some basic practical guidance on filter maintennance.
I have a new tank that's 4 months old and successfully cycled. I jump started the cycle with used media from a Forum member - sintered quartz balls - that I added to the polyester bag of my HOB filter instead of the charcoal. I test frequently, with no ammonia or nitrites for several months. I've recently exchanged the filter bag, but transferred the quartz media to the new bag to keep the bacteria. I've also added extra poly fiber to the filter. So, here are my questions:
1. Should I throw out the initial quartz media? On the one hand, the media is a good substrate for bacterial growth, but is it also collecting harmful matter? Does it need to be refreshed periodically and if so how often?
2. With the quartz and extra poly fiber that I've packed into the HOB filter, I have lots of bacterial substrate, which is good; but I've taken up a lot of space and impeded the flow a bit. Any thoughts on the trade-offs between the lower flow (and less oxygenation) vs greater surface area for bacterial growth?
3. Lastly, any suggestions on filter media? Charcoal, though not necessary for purification, nevertheless has the same properties that sintered quartz does - micro crevasses that increase surface area for bacterial growth. Its cheaper than the quartz, but will the poly fiber work as well?
I know that this is a lot, but I really appreciate the advice. Thanks.
I have a new tank that's 4 months old and successfully cycled. I jump started the cycle with used media from a Forum member - sintered quartz balls - that I added to the polyester bag of my HOB filter instead of the charcoal. I test frequently, with no ammonia or nitrites for several months. I've recently exchanged the filter bag, but transferred the quartz media to the new bag to keep the bacteria. I've also added extra poly fiber to the filter. So, here are my questions:
1. Should I throw out the initial quartz media? On the one hand, the media is a good substrate for bacterial growth, but is it also collecting harmful matter? Does it need to be refreshed periodically and if so how often?
2. With the quartz and extra poly fiber that I've packed into the HOB filter, I have lots of bacterial substrate, which is good; but I've taken up a lot of space and impeded the flow a bit. Any thoughts on the trade-offs between the lower flow (and less oxygenation) vs greater surface area for bacterial growth?
3. Lastly, any suggestions on filter media? Charcoal, though not necessary for purification, nevertheless has the same properties that sintered quartz does - micro crevasses that increase surface area for bacterial growth. Its cheaper than the quartz, but will the poly fiber work as well?
I know that this is a lot, but I really appreciate the advice. Thanks.
