Fluval 2plus Filter Maintenance

[dilbert]

Hi everybody!

I got a 60 liter tank now running over 4 months and the clogging indicator now goes always down rapidly after cleaning the filter pads.

So, I guess the time has come to change one of those pads.

Should I first change the so-called "polyester filter pad" which is in the sandwiched in middle between the coarser "foam pads"?

I think those bigger "foam pads" will hold much longer than the "polyester filter pad".

And, can I do something useful with those used up pads or do I simply throw them in the bin?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

I would think the finer middle pad would need replacing first. The normal sponge bits last forever (pretty much).

Or you could just take it out. Mine just kind of dissolved into goo after a couple of weeks so I don't always use one, I sometimes put carbon in instead to take out meds etc.

If you're taking it out and replacing it I would squeeze the goo from the old pad onto the new one.

 

[Colin_T]

take out the fine one and throw it away. Replace it with another bit of course foam. It will quickly be colonised by the filter bacteria from the other filter pads.

 

[jennybugs]

I have the 2+ and 3+ and don't use the fine filter pad at all. I squish my coarse foam pads out in old tank water every week with my water change and then replace one side every 3 months in rotation, even though it's sometimes hard to tell which is the newer side unless I mark the container. This keeps the benficial bacteria in good supply rather than changing both at the same time and losing good bacteria supplies. I also give the top part of the filter a clean every 2 weeks to stop the impeller etc getting clogged up