Jewel Bio Filter Pads ?

[JohnBull]

Hi,

I have a question regarding a Jewel bio filter for a Trigon 190.


Our tank is now 4 months old. We clean our white filter at the top every 10 days or so and squeeze the pads directly below these once a month. How do we go about cleaning the sponges set deeper in the tank, or do we have to replace these sponges completely ?



John.

 

[Kelly-Jo]

The top filter sponge (white) is called a polypad and should be replaced every time you do a water change. I replace mine weekly or more frequently if it gets full of sand. The other sponges should be squeezed and cleaned in the old tank water that you remove when doing a water change.

Here is a link which Juwel give as a guide as to how often to change the filters sponges:

http/www.aquamania.co.uk/juwel-filter-media-guide.asp

You don't really need the carbon (black) in unless you are removing meds or chemicals.

You probably know this, but don't change all the filter sponges at once as there will be no bacteria left in the filter.

 

[JohnBull]

The top filter sponge (white) is called a polypad and should be replaced every time you do a water change. I replace mine weekly or more frequently if it gets full of sand. The other sponges should be squeezed and cleaned in the old tank water that you remove when doing a water change.

Here is a link which Juwel give as a guide as to how often to change the filters sponges:

http/www.aquamania.co.uk/juwel-filter-media-guide.asp

You don't really need the carbon (black) in unless you are removing meds or chemicals.

You probably know this, but don't change all the filter sponges at once as there will be no bacteria left in the filter.

Th

 

[JohnBull]

The top filter sponge (white) is called a polypad and should be replaced every time you do a water change. I replace mine weekly or more frequently if it gets full of sand. The other sponges should be squeezed and cleaned in the old tank water that you remove when doing a water change.

Here is a link which Juwel give as a guide as to how often to change the filters sponges:

http/www.aquamania.co.uk/juwel-filter-media-guide.asp

You don't really need the carbon (black) in unless you are removing meds or chemicals.

You probably know this, but don't change all the filter sponges at once as there will be no bacteria left in the filter.

Th

Thanks for that.

Im still a little confused.

Should we REPLACE the pads entirely as directed by Jewel,or simply squeeze and clean the pads before returning as you seem to be suggesting ?


John.

 

[fishyfeet]

the large filter sponges need only be changed when they are worn out and then half a sponge at a time, even the floss i only change when it completly filthy when rinsed. di

 

[JohnBull]

the large filter sponges need only be changed when they are worn out and then half a sponge at a time, even the floss i only change when it completly filthy when rinsed. di

Hi,


Interesting.

Just out of curiosity.

How often do you squeeze/clean your sponges out ?



John.

 

[fishyfeet]

are we talking internal or external filter here, ive had both and they are very very different. di

 

[JohnBull]

are we talking internal or external filter here, ive had both and they are very very different. di

Hi,


Internal.

I assumed you had a biofilter such as the kind like Jewel make ?




John.

 

[fishyfeet]

ive had two fluval internal and a jewel internal, i removed all the internal and replaced them with 3 external fluval 305's and what a difference, the internal filter block up weekly and i used to have to take the filter out and apart and rinse out all sponges every week, when i got my largest tank which came with an internal fluval 405 i thought this is going to be even worse, so i brought an external filter fluval 305 and was so impressed, i replaced the 105 in the smaller tank with a fluval external 305 as well, when i got the jewel 190 i took the filter out (they are glued in) and put a fluval 305 external on there as well.

so to anwser your question i do the sponges on the internal weekly leaving them longer will have reduced flow.

and the external well if i do them every 3 or 4 months id be amazed, really if there is a problem or blockage or reduced flow i have to take of the filter so i clean i out then, tanks as clear as can be, fish are healthy, mind you its not overstocked. di

 

[baldeagle]

You don't really need the carbon (black) in unless you are removing meds or chemicals.

You probably know this, but don't change all the filter sponges at once as there will be no bacteria left in the filter.

Thanks was just about to ask this question when i came across this thread. Black one out then!! can i put an extra filter in it's replacement or just leave a gap? more pads better filtration right?

 

[JohnBull]

ive had two fluval internal and a jewel internal, i removed all the internal and replaced them with 3 external fluval 305's and what a difference, the internal filter block up weekly and i used to have to take the filter out and apart and rinse out all sponges every week, when i got my largest tank which came with an internal fluval 405 i thought this is going to be even worse, so i brought an external filter fluval 305 and was so impressed, i replaced the 105 in the smaller tank with a fluval external 305 as well, when i got the jewel 190 i took the filter out (they are glued in) and put a fluval 305 external on there as well.

so to anwser your question i do the sponges on the internal weekly leaving them longer will have reduced flow.

and the external well if i do them every 3 or 4 months id be amazed, really if there is a problem or blockage or reduced flow i have to take of the filter so i clean i out then, tanks as clear as can be, fish are healthy, mind you its not overstocked. di

Hi,


Sounds impressive.

We are newbies to fish keeping,hence the questions I ask. Perhaps in the future we will convert to the external filtration system,it sounds simpler and more reliable and I imagine the water clarity is enhanced with less maintenance required. For now though we (me and the kids) are learning the basics,something that has to be done by everyone at some stage.


John.

 

[golfzzin]

Hi,


Interesting.

Just out of curiosity.

How often do you squeeze/clean your sponges out ?



John.

Hi

I have the same filter, heres how i clean mine;

Top Layers

Top white layer: every water change (6 days ish)

I have removed the black sponge

Green sponge, replace once every 6 months ish

Blue sponge rinse in old tank water once a month

I have added another bio box and this is rinsed in old tank water once a month.

Bottom Layers

2 x blue sponges and 1 x bio box are rinsed in old tank water once every two months ish

You can take the media out the same way as those at the top (there should be in a basket with some grips at the top)

Thats how i do mine, in a heavily stocked tank, my ammonia and nitrite are at zero and nitrates stays at a constant (same as my tap water)

 

[JohnBull]

Hi,


Interesting.

Just out of curiosity.

How often do you squeeze/clean your sponges out ?



John.

Hi

I have the same filter, heres how i clean mine;

Top Layers

Top white layer: every water change (6 days ish)

I have removed the black sponge

Green sponge, replace once every 6 months ish

Blue sponge rinse in old tank water once a month

I have added another bio box and this is rinsed in old tank water once a month.

Bottom Layers

2 x blue sponges and 1 x bio box are rinsed in old tank water once every two months ish

You can take the media out the same way as those at the top (there should be in a basket with some grips at the top)

Thats how i do mine, in a heavily stocked tank, my ammonia and nitrite are at zero and nitrates stays at a constant (same as my tap water)

Hi,


Think I get the picture now.

Btw..Do you rotate your filter cleaning as suggested above ?


Thanks



John

 

[golfzzin]

Hi,


Think I get the picture now.

Btw..Do you rotate your filter cleaning as suggested above ?


Thanks



John

Sort of, Every two months or so i will do the whole lot, but then i do the top layer more often, like once a month. I dont feed on cleaning days anymore, and when i do a full filter clean i tend to feed less the day after too.

I use a few buckets when cleaning, so will drop each basket in a seprate bucket to avoid mixing the sponges up, give them a quick squeeze or shake then return them to the tank.

So basicaly, month 1 i clean everything, month 2 just the top layer, month 3 everything, month 4 the top layer and so on. This is a routine that seem to work well for my tank, i have not lost a fish for ages, the plant i have are growing well and my levels are good.

In time you will find a way that works best for you

 

[JohnBull]

Hi,


Think I get the picture now.

Btw..Do you rotate your filter cleaning as suggested above ?


Thanks



John

Sort of, Every two months or so i will do the whole lot, but then i do the top layer more often, like once a month. I dont feed on cleaning days anymore, and when i do a full filter clean i tend to feed less the day after too.

I use a few buckets when cleaning, so will drop each basket in a seprate bucket to avoid mixing the sponges up, give them a quick squeeze or shake then return them to the tank.

So basicaly, month 1 i clean everything, month 2 just the top layer, month 3 everything, month 4 the top layer and so on. This is a routine that seem to work well for my tank, i have not lost a fish for ages, the plant i have are growing well and my levels are good.

In time you will find a way that works best for you

Thanks again.


John.