Questions About Filters

[Underwurlde]

Hello!

I have been trying to track down definative answers to a few questions I have about filters but have been unable to find no real answers or confusing answers.

The Blue Filter:
I gather this is the most important filter in the tank - it holds bacteria that break down ammonia into the less dangerous chemical nitrite.
Q1) Should this filter EVER be removed and changed for a new one?
Q2) So far I have seen mention of it being cleaned in old tank water during water changes but never anything to do with changing it: Therefore if is should be changed, how often and more importantly HOW to change it?

The Green Filter:
I think this filter is used to remove nitrate. It supposedly lasts for 6 weeks after which it should be changed. Q3) Is it just a simple matter of swapping it out, or like the blue filter does it harbour important bacteria?

The Black Carbon Filter:
Erm, not really sure what this filter is for but I think it shoudl be changed every 4 weeks.
Q4) I have a planted aquarium therefore should I even be using a carbon filter?

Thanks again guys & gals,

Andy

 

[sparklefuzz]

Hello!

I have been trying to track down definative answers to a few questions I have about filters but have been unable to find no real answers or confusing answers.

The Blue Filter:
I gather this is the most important filter in the tank - it holds bacteria that break down ammonia into the less dangerous chemical nitrite.
Q1) Should this filter EVER be removed and changed for a new one?
Q2) So far I have seen mention of it being cleaned in old tank water during water changes but never anything to do with changing it: Therefore if is should be changed, how often and more importantly HOW to change it?

The Green Filter:
I think this filter is used to remove nitrate. It supposedly lasts for 6 weeks after which it should be changed. Q3) Is it just a simple matter of swapping it out, or like the blue filter does it harbour important bacteria?

The Black Carbon Filter:
Erm, not really sure what this filter is for but I think it shoudl be changed every 4 weeks.
Q4) I have a planted aquarium therefore should I even be using a carbon filter?

Thanks again guys & gals,

Andy

I think (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that all the sponges hold important bacteria. I have those three you mentioned (juwel filter), and you're right about the green being for the nitrates, just swap it for a new one after 6 weeks, but squeeze it out back into the tank water when you swap it. (At least thats what I was told ) The same goes for the black carbon one. I used to have a planted tank, and I've always had a carbon sponge... never been a problem to me. The blue one, I just rinse it out every 6 weeks (alternating with the other sponges so you're not replacing/rinsing all at the same time) in the water I just took off the tank. I think you need to replace them maybe yearly or something.

Anyways, someone more knowledgable will probably reply, I'm new at this, but I'm pretty sure I'm ok with what I've said, been doing it a year with no problems.

 

[BigIan]

Q1) Should this filter EVER be removed and changed for a new one?

Q2) So far I have seen mention of it being cleaned in old tank water during water changes but never anything to do with changing it: Therefore if is should be changed, how often and more importantly HOW to change it?

they both seem to be the same question....

yes you can change this, but only when the sponge has become very old and tatty and is breaking down this can take years, when it happens take the old sponge out rince it in a bucket of tank water then take the new sponge rinse it in the bucket to seed it,

Q3) Is it just a simple matter of swapping it out, or like the blue filter does it harbour important bacteria?

this media will also harbour bacteria but in my opinion is a waste of time of money, you`d do better adding more sponge or floss or some other form of mecanical or biological media in there as weekly water changes should get rid of nitrates.

Q4) I have a planted aquarium therefore should I even be using a carbon filter?
the carbon will be stripping all the neutrients out of the water that your plants feed on so i`d remove that too and only use it to remove meds after treating the tank. again i would find some other form of media for that compartment



hope that helps

 

[Flunter]

Thanks BigIan, that's cleared up a few points I had been pondering on

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

I asked a similar question a short while ago.

The answers where as in the above posts , on the lines of

a: Carbon sponge only useful after using meds.

b: Nitrate sponge not that useful as water changes take care of Nitrates

c: better off with biological filters.

So this is what I Did (Juwel compact).

Fine blue in bottom carrier, fine blue in bottom of top carrier (where coarse blue was), coarse blue above it where Nitrate sponge was. Then I sliced a coarse blue sponge to make 2 approx the same as the carbon sponge & put it in place of the carbon sponge. White floss on top.

This fills up the holder to it's normal position and when cleaning I only rinse one sponge each time so as not to lose too many of the 'friendly bacteria'.

You just need to make note of which one to rinse (or have a good memory )

Another option is to fill up the space with sponges that will fit a hospital tank so that they can be remover when you need to set one up.

 

[Underwurlde]

@BigIan,

<* Gulp *> I have done as you have suggested - I have remove the Black Carbon filter AND the Green Nitrate filter!

Thanks again for your advice. (PS if it all goes wrong, I know where you live 8) ).

@LiveLifeGoJump,

Sound advice! I will also give that a go... when I next pop into my LFS and purchase of some blue filters, both fine & coarse.

BTW I too have a Juwel Tank (a newby Record 60).

Thanks again y'all

Andy





Oh, BTW, before I go...

Why would there be continual need for a Black Carbon filter in the first place i.e. why would you want to remove nutrients from the tank? Is this to reduce algae growth? Therefore, in removing it, can I expect a bloody algae explosion in my tank.

Andy

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

@BigIan,

<* Gulp *> I have done as you have suggested - I have remove the Black Carbon filter AND the Green Nitrate filter!

Thanks again for your advice. (PS if it all goes wrong, I know where you live 8) ).

@LiveLifeGoJump,

Sound advice! I will also give that a go... when I next pop into my LFS and purchase of some blue filters, both fine & coarse.

BTW I too have a Juwel Tank (a newby Record 60).

Thanks again y'all

Andy




Oh, BTW, before I go...

Why would there be continual need for a Black Carbon filter in the first place i.e. why would you want to remove nutrients from the tank? Is this to reduce algae growth? Therefore, in removing it, can I expect a bloody algae explosion in my tank.

Andy

Removing the carbon filter hasn't increased the algea in my Juwel Record 70 but it is well planted. I have also fitted Bacofoil to the light reflector to reflect more into the tank (some improvement) & intend adding a second light as per some of the other posts. May also change the Juwel tube for an Arcadia one as the posts suggest.

 

[BigIan]

@BigIan,

<* Gulp *> I have done as you have suggested - I have remove the Black Carbon filter AND the Green Nitrate filter!

Thanks again for your advice. (PS if it all goes wrong, I know where you live 8) ).


cool dude what did you replace them with???
i would go for some of the ceramic rings and some floss

Why would there be continual need for a Black Carbon filter in the first place i.e. why would you want to remove nutrients from the tank? Is this to reduce algae growth? Therefore, in removing it, can I expect a bloody algae explosion in my tank.

mostly they say you need it so they can make money,

other than that only use carbon when something goes wrong

 

[Underwurlde]

@LiveLifeGoJump
Yes, to HUGELY improve the 'look' of my tank, I whipped out the bog standard Juwel Light & replaced it with an Arcadia 'Freshwater’ bulb and added a proper (ie from LFS) Shiny black backing.

I now have 1 Watt / Gallon so I too will be adding another bulb soon (when the Wife isn't looking), an Arcadia 'Original' or possibly another of the same.

PS, thanks for the Algae confidence boost!

@BigIan

cool dude what did you replace them with???
i would go for some of the ceramic rings and some floss

Erm, nothing yet. Too late. Shop shut.
So, like LiveLifeGoJump suggested, more of the blue stuff.
(ceramic rings, what are THOSE things then?)

Cheers again both of you,

Andy

 

[Flunter]

So can friendly bacteria tell the difference between blue and green, how do they know which one to collonise?

Sorry to appear thick peeps, i'm sure there is a perfectly logical answer....

There is obviously a difference between the blue and green but what is it?

 

[Underwurlde]

Who gives a sh... !

 

[Flunter]

Nice answer I don't think

So why all the posts above about doing away with the green because it isn't needed?

 

[Underwurlde]

LOL. Ahh I see (said the blind Irish Man).

The BLUE filter colinizes friendly bacteria that (for whatever reason) change fishy pee (ammonia) into the less harmful chemical Nitrite. This in turn gets converted into the not as nasty as Nitrite chemical Nitrate.

The GREEN filter is then used to remove the semi harmful chemical Nitrate. BUT there is no point of this filter if (as you should be doing) is weekly water changes. THEREFORE if there is little point in it, why have it and why keep buying it. Better still, the available space left by the Green filter can be used by the much preferred BLUE filter i.e. add some more to the exisitng one.

I think that is the gist of it all.

Andy