Filter Schedule

[stanster]

I want to get a good filter schedule set up for my tank.
The filters (internal) consist of :

3 trays each containing ceramic rings and covered by sponge media
A filter bag containing nitrate and phosphate reducing media
A carbon filter.

Manufacturer suggest cycling the sponge media weekly (at the same time as the water change) and discarding the first sponge in the line.
Replacing the carbon and nitrate/phosphate filters every fortnight.

Questions are :

Is this overly ambitious.
I assume that the sponges should be replaced once they stop flow ?
Would it be ok to cut my own , say from something like this :
http/www.amazon.co.uk/Aquarium-Fish-Biochemical-Sponge-Filter/dp/B005HGLL1Y/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1351155996&sr=8-15


Is it ok to monitor nitrate/phosphate levels weekly and replace this filter once the levels start to escalate ?

Carbon filter - Guess this will contain useful bacteria, shame to throw it away.

Assume if you have to discard both carbon and nitrate, better to alternate ?

Ceramic rings - Guess these also contian bacteria, so better to change once they get brittle and look like breaking up.

Hope this all makes sense.
Any advice welcome .

 

[Aquascaper]

No No No No No

You never need to discard sponges or ceramics unless they are disintegrating, the manufacturer tells you to so you spend more money.

Activated carbon only 'lasts' for around 4 weeks before it stops removing tannins and meds (that's the only real use for it) so most people replace with a normal sponge and only use carbon if they need to.

Any sponge can be used and cut to size if needed, there are different densities with different porosity so the only thing to consider is that it will do what you want it to.

Nitrate/phosphate removers are ok but your regular water changes should take care of them and they need recharged/replaced frequently so again, most people will replace with more ceramics/sponges.

HTH

 

[elmo666]

No No No No No

You never need to discard sponges or ceramics unless they are disintegrating, the manufacturer tells you to so you spend more money.

Activated carbon only 'lasts' for around 4 weeks before it stops removing tannins and meds (that's the only real use for it) so most people replace with a normal sponge and only use carbon if they need to.

Any sponge can be used and cut to size if needed, there are different densities with different porosity so the only thing to consider is that it will do what you want it to.

Nitrate/phosphate removers are ok but your regular water changes should take care of them and they need recharged/replaced frequently so again, most people will replace with more ceramics/sponges.

HTH

Got to say that is an excrllent response, nice one.

 

[stanster]

Thank you.

I thought as much and from a scientific viewpoint I was thinking that replacing was a waste of money if you controlled the water quality by regular sensible maintenance.

 

[Aquascaper]

When you do need to change the media in a few years time be careful not to change more than 1/4 of the total amount so you don't start a mini-cycle and it's best to allow a few weeks between replacements to allow the bacteria to colonised the new media before removing more.

 

[stanster]

Will try and remember that

Does filter floss do the same job as sponge ?

 

[Aquascaper]

Filter floss traps very fine particles and is normally used as a final stage media to 'polish' the water before it goes back in the tank. It needs thrown away once dirty otherwise it will start to reduce the flow through the filter. How often depends on how dirty your tank is.

 

[Sheils]

I have a question. I do have a carbon filter. I have had it going over 4 weeks. The flow is still going pretty good. But now what I'm confused is if I should change it. The guy at petsmart told me the filter isn't working anyway even to keep the good bacteria. And I was reading on the box that you shouldn't change while medicating tank since carbon will absorb it. The only thing I noticed in the begining the plastic tube that hangs down in tank from the filter picked up whatever small piece from fish let go. Now it doesn't. Any suggestions on what I should do?