Filters (Sponges)

[jamie20]

Hi all having just started with a aquarium i have a question, the experts tell you not to throw away any filters(sponges) except the white ones because of the good bacteria they contain yet in the manuals it says you should replace the filters after so many months, can anyone tell me the correct way please? by the way i have a Juwel 800 110L/25g tank.

Thanks for your help

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Besides the top white pad, which should be replaced every week or so (buy a big sheet of Koi filter wool or alike to cut into squares, far cheaper than the Juwel ones), all the other sponges will last years in terms of holding bacterial colonies.

The only other exception is the black carbon pad, which should only be placed in the filter following a medication course for a few days, to absorb the remnants once the course is over. After that, throw it away, as the toxin removal properties are only active for a few days.

 

[Hermithall]

Chucking out your established filter media is about the worst thing you could do - those sponges last for donkey's years. The manual's recommendation is designed to get your cash!!

 

[fidjet2]

Chucking out your established filter media is about the worst thing you could do - those sponges last for donkey's years. The manual's recommendation is designed to get your cash!!

+1 !

 

[jamie20]

Thanks to you both for your replies.

 

[cms091]

Some Jewel filters also have a 'nitrate removing' sponge, which has some sort of tablet inserted into a pocket. Once this tablet has disolved, I don't think the sponge is any different from an ordinary sponge. I don't think it puts the nitrates back once it is 'full' like the carbon is said to. I don't bother replacing this either.