ShinySideUp
Fish Herder
It says in the instructions to replace the cotton things weekly, carbon monthly, green sponge every two months, rough blue sponge every 3 months, cirax balls every 12 months, 9 months for one of the fine blue sponges and 12 months for the other.
Crikey! Does anyone with a rio follow this 'regime' or is it pure marketing??
I have run a Juwel Lido 120 litre for six years. For a while I used to change the carbon filter once a month but stopped using them altogether when I found out that it takes out plant fertilizer.
The white, polypad filter I change once a week because they bung up very quickly and reduce the water flow. To keep water flow at at maximum I replace the polypad but wash out the old one and place it on top of the new one, after three or four days I take out the old one which leaves the new one exposed as the first filter and so don't get reduced flow at any time. (I hope that makes sense)
After a month with the tank when it was new I took out the green fiilter and threw it away never to use another one. It's used for removing nitrates and if you are a fishkeeper worth your salt your weekly water changes will do this quite well thank you. I have changed the other filters (coarse/fine) only once in six years -- don't really know why as they were still fine.
I now have a 240 litre Fluval with external filter but I still run my Juwel upstairs for some tiny fish.
One further note on Juwel equipment: After a long time with the same power head I was a bit worried that something might break (especially the lead as it is bent around every water change) leaving me filterless so bought a replacement one just in case -- it is still in it's box.
If you can live with the space the filter takes up then Juwel equipment is very good and in general if the filter is pumping water at maximum then you need change nothing.
Cheers
Martin
