How Often Do You Change Your Filter?

[TheeMon]

ok a little confusion here, i thought most the bacteria was in the filter right? well that being said i aint changed none of my filters(multiple tanks) since i put them in... i rinse them off regularly but i dont change them. the reason im asking is i just bought a new overflow and i read on the box it said replace the filters monthly... ummm?

and if you change the filters monthly what kind of effect will it have on the tank?will the nitrous(sp? no2 whatever that one is) shoot up or anything?

more info? thx


:edit:when i say filter i mean filter cartridges/pads end edit:

 

[fishnterrapins]

I change the coarse filter pads in my eheim external filter about every 6 months and the fine white filter pad about every 2 months, BUT I only change the one at a time. I know some filter media such as carbon and zeolite have a finite useful life span but I've never known anyone change filter media on a monthly basis.

I would imagine if you were to change the filter pads monthly then it would have an adverse affect on the tank as you would be losing a lot of the beneficial bacteria. Bottom line if you feel you really have to change it then try changing it a bit at a time.

 

[celaeno]

ok a little confusion here, i thought most the bacteria was in the filter right? well that being said i aint changed none of my filters(multiple tanks) since i put them in... i rinse them off regularly but i dont change them. the reason im asking is i just bought a new overflow and i read on the box it said replace the filters monthly... ummm?

and if you change the filters monthly what kind of effect will it have on the tank?will the nitrous(sp? no2 whatever that one is) shoot up or anything?

more info? thx

are you talking about filters or filter cartridges/pads?

i change my filter cartridge every 2 months and find no noticeable loss of bacteria as measured by the ammonia tests. i have a bio-wheel filter though, so most of the bacteria is on the bio-wheel.

 

[TheeMon]

i only have one overflow per tank... i dont want to change my filters... im just wondering.

 

[edgun88]

Ok buddy. Here is what you do. Change them every couple months. 6 months is fine. I would only change one at a time though, because if you change both at the same time it will cause a mini-cycle in your tank. But nothing to worry about.

 

[Davey Jones]

Some people never change their filters until they are falling apart, I don't know why anyone would need to replace them just rinse them out in tank water, IMO a new one isn't going to do a better job than the old undamaged one.

 

[The-Wolf]

i read on the box it said replace the filters monthly... ummm?

because they want you to keep buying their filter pads, thus making them more money.
kinda like food pots say feed 5 or 6 times a day so you use the food up quicker and have to buy more.

your current regine is spot on, rinsing the pads on every water change keeps the bacteria alive
and your tank healthy.

 

[three-fingers]

My ancient fluval 3 internal filter has been running with the same media for about 3 years. I only rinse it out in tank water once every 6 months .

 

[TheeMon]

My ancient fluval 3 internal filter has been running with the same media for about 3 years. I only rinse it out in tank water once every 6 months .

exactly, thanks...

stupid question guys but i wasnt sure, i guess i should still follow my gut huh? thx bye

 

[Gazoo]

My ancient fluval 3 internal filter has been running with the same media for about 3 years. I only rinse it out in tank water once every 6 months .

exactly, thanks...

stupid question guys but i wasnt sure, i guess i should still follow my gut huh? thx bye

Not a stupid question, this was an excellent question TheeMon. I'm sure many people are "wasting" money by following the recommended schedule suggested by the manufactures.

 

[Davey Jones]

My ancient fluval 3 internal filter has been running with the same media for about 3 years. I only rinse it out in tank water once every 6 months .

exactly, thanks...

stupid question guys but i wasnt sure, i guess i should still follow my gut huh? thx bye

Not a stupid question, this was an excellent question TheeMon. I'm sure many people are "wasting" money by following the recommended schedule suggested by the manufactures.

Spot on, when I first started I regularly changed the filters every month and cleaned them every week. What a waste of money and I'm sure it caused some fish deaths, the tank was permanently cycling

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

As it's been said the only sponges that really need changing are the carbon/phosphate filters that have a limited life span and the filter floss that catches the meaty bits floating around.

The media where your beneficial bacteria grows just needs a little squeeze every now and again in your old tank water during a water change

 

[three-fingers]

Not a stupid question, this was an excellent question TheeMon. I'm sure many people are "wasting" money by following the recommended schedule suggested by the manufactures.

I used to change all the sponge media every 6 months for the first 3 years I had my fluval, but for the past 3 years I've not bothered since I learnt it was bad.
Also, I was and still am running an under gravel filter along side it with hardy coldwater/subtropical fish so I never noticed any adverse affects.

Lol, I wonder what's lurking underneath my 6 year old under gravel filter, I've never ever cleaned that thing out .
Should be fun to find out, I'll be removing it in a couple of months when I set up my trigon .