Filter Sponges

[poveyt]

Hi

Just have a daft question - I have a Fluval 1 mechanical filter in our tank which is going through its first (and my first) cycle. I gave the filter sponge a clean today, following advice on various sites (it had been running for around 2 weeks) - quick rinse in old aquarium water to get rid of some of the bits.

My simple question is - should I have done this during the cycling? Sorry if it sounds like a daft question - I have been thinking about it all day along the lines of "if bacteria are growing there, did that get rid of any of them?". Of course, I may just be worring too much about nothing, but do want to have a healthy tank (I am already thinking about where I can put a 55 gallon tank! My wife is already starting to worry about me....)

 

[WILDER]

I hope it isn't a fluval one filter lol as that only for a 5gal tank, no don't touch anything in the filter till the tank has cycled, or the gravel, only thing you do to a filter is rinse the floss once a week, till your sponges get gunked up.

 

[poveyt]

Ok - won't be touching it again. One more question - the Fluval One was the filter that came with the tank - should I be looking for another one? I guess they would put an under powered filter in...getting very cynical!

 

[WILDER]

I don't rate undergravel filters so it's up to you.
It isn't one of these filters is it.
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/bigpics/fluvalplus.htm

 

[poveyt]

Um, yes - is that bad? It is the one that came with the all inclusive tank (bought as a present for my daughter - see thread on feeding & neons). Thinking that the large tank will be coming sooner rather than later - I can set it up properly!

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank as i thought it was for the 55 gallons.

 

[poveyt]

How many gallons is the tank as i thought it was for the 55 gallons.

No! It is a 10 gallon - the 55 is only in my dreams right now!

 

[WILDER]

I use a fluval one in a hospital tank, it depends on how many fish are in, but no i would say get a better one, or buy another fluval one, one at each end of the tank.

 

[missPenguin]

How many gallons is the tank as i thought it was for the 55 gallons.

No! It is a 10 gallon - the 55 is only in my dreams right now!

I always thought the fluval filters were suposed to be pretty decent.

I have a fluval 3 plus underwater in a 126 litre tank, is this good enough then?

 

[WILDER]

That fine a fluval three in there, thought he meant a fluval one for a 55gal.

 

[missPenguin]

Ah, I see.

In the future I'll probably ugrade to an external anyway, but it costs too much at the mo.

 

[poveyt]

That fine a fluval three in there, thought he meant a fluval one for a 55gal.

Sorry for the confusion ) & thanks for the help - still learning.....as you can tell!

Enjoying this though, probably as much as my daughter....

 

[missPenguin]

It's fun isn't it

Well it will be once my tank cycles.

It's also very addictive and I'll bet it's not long till you give in to temptation and get your 55 gallon Poveyt


My 30 [us] gallon [126 litre] is already seeming a little on the small side.

 

[peesa]

Hi

Just have a daft question - I have a Fluval 1 mechanical filter in our tank which is going through its first (and my first) cycle. I gave the filter sponge a clean today, following advice on various sites (it had been running for around 2 weeks) - quick rinse in old aquarium water to get rid of some of the bits.

My simple question is - should I have done this during the cycling? Sorry if it sounds like a daft question - I have been thinking about it all day along the lines of "if bacteria are growing there, did that get rid of any of them?". Of course, I may just be worring too much about nothing, but do want to have a healthy tank (I am already thinking about where I can put a 55 gallon tank! My wife is already starting to worry about me....)

Then what do you do once they have gunked up. coz im at that stage now and filter performance has really dropped should they be changed or just rinsed in old tank water??

Um, yes - is that bad? It is the one that came with the all inclusive tank (bought as a present for my daughter - see thread on feeding & neons). Thinking that the large tank will be coming sooner rather than later - I can set it up properly!

sorry i ment to quote this one, what should you do once sponges are gunked up? my fluval 3plus is no longer working should i change sponges or just clean them?

 

[WILDER]

Just clean the filter itself the impellor wan't a clean then clean the inside with a toothbrush to get the gunk out.