New 30 Gallon Tank

[junosama]

Hey all,

Been many years since I had a proper fish tank so trying to get back into it. Just got a nice 30 gallon starter kit. I have it all setup and I am currently going to start my fishless cycle. I am going to do fake plants to start since i don't feel comfortable growing plants yet. I just have a few questions.


How often do you change the filter cartridge? Do you replace the whole thing with the carbon inside and the white filter part or what? I know the bacteria is important so not sure how changing filters cartridges works.

My starter kit came with stress zyme +. It says contains live bacteria and helps keep aquariums clean. It says to add it on the 1st, 7th and 14th days then a bit each week for established aquariums. Do i need this or do i just wait for the bacteria to grow naturally and for my water chemicals levels to become right?

 

[mike455555]

someone will correct me if im wrong. but you dont change your filter cartridge unless you have to. because of the bacteria. is it a foam filter cartridge?
if so all you need to do is when it gets really dirty is wash it out in TANK water (e.g when you do a water change)

stress zyme+... where do i start. most people found the bottled bacteria dont do anything this is because they are put in a bottle with no food or light and then they are placed on a shelf for however long. so naturally your putting dead bacteria in your tank which will do nothing.

you can wait for the bacteria to grow. but you can speed it up by getting some mature filter media from somewhere.

 

[junosama]

Yeah its like your typical white foam cartridge that comes with filters that hang on the side. So even if it looks dirty and has algae on it you just clean it with tank water?

 

[mike455555]

it shouldn't have algae on it, maybe a little but normally its inside a case = no light = no algae (bacteria uses chemicals to get there energy unlike algae which uses light)

if it looks dirty get a bucket of tank water from a water change and just shake and squeeze it in there.
dont wash it it tap water because you will kill your bacteria (with the choline)

hope this helped =D

 

[junosama]

Sounds good guess this will save me money I always thought you had to buy those packs and change them like once a month. More pet store propaganda lol

 

[mike455555]

change your filter once a month... that would just be after it cycled (about)... poor fishes for the people who take that advice

you shouldn't need to change your filter for ages... one of mines been running a year... its still good

 

[phishyphil]

Filter's hardly need changing mate, just rinsing in TANK water when you do a water change. DO NOT rinse under the tap or it will kill your bacteria. The LFS will advise you to change your filters but only to get more business out of you, I personally wouldn't bother.

Carbon isn't need mate, It's only used for removing medications and tannins from the water, my suggestion is take it out and put some other media in there such as more foam, or ceramic noodles, purigen, Substrat Pro etc . Oh and filter wool for water polishing