Quick questions about water changes and filter media...

[Natalia]

Hey everyone. I'm brand new at this and I need some advice on a couple things if anyone could spare a moment. I have a new 34L/9 gallon Fluval Flex with one male guppy and three male balloon mollies. It's not a planted tank and I cycled it for two weeks before adding fish.

I was told at the store to do a 10-20% water change once per week. My question is should I still do this even if the ammonia/nitrate/nitrite levels are all good?

Also, how often should I change the flter media? The tank came with a foam filter block and two bags-- one is something called biomax rings (I don't really understand what they do tbh) and the other I think was some sort of carbon. Is it fine to change both at once or will that disrupt the balance? Should I change the foam filter block as well?

Thank you!

--Natalia.

 

[AilyNC]

I test daily as my tank is only 2 months old. If ammonia/Nitrite are above 0 or nitrate above 20 do a water Change. If levels all good I still change once a week. But I do 75% water changes. My Molly was too small for my 60cm length & 58L tank. It's worth checking seriouslyfish.com to make sure fish are suited to your tank dimensions, water ph and hardness. Molly needs a long tank of 90cm.

Poecilia sphenops – Short-finned Molly/Black Molly — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[Essjay 135]

Pet stores often give poor advice* and telling you to change 10 to 20% a week is an example. You need to change at least 50% a week and many members change 75%.
With a new tank you need to monitor ammonia and nitrite every day until you are sure that they remain at zero; if either reads above zero, a water change needs to be done immediately. Once they stay at zero, you can then do weekly water changes.

Water changes remove the nitrate made by the filter bacteria. They remove countless other things excreted and secreted by the fish. They replenish minerals taken up by the fish.



Manufacturers tell you to change the media because they want your money. Changing media throws away a lot of beneficial bacteria. Sponges should be changed only when they fall apart after several years and biomax (a ceramic medium, a good home for the bacteria) needs only be changed when it starts to crumble; again it will last for years. Until then these only need to be washed in water that you've taken out during a water change. The media should be washed at least once a month, preferably one every two weeks.
Manufacturers also include carbon in their filters but it is not needed on a routine basis. Carbon is only useful for removing medication after sick fish have been treated. The best thing to do is replace the bag of carbon with more sponge, any make cut
down to fit the filter. But keep some carbon in the cupboard just in case.



*Never believe anything a store says until you have researched it for yourself. The site in the link that AdoraBelle gave you is the best site for research.

 

[AilyNC]

The link that AdoraBelle gave you is the best site for research.

Hi she's @AdoraBelle Dearheart... I'm @AilyNC

 

[Wells]

Also, how often should I change the flter media? The tank came with a foam filter block and two bags-- one is something called biomax rings (I don't really understand what they do tbh) and the other I think was some sort of carbon. Is it fine to change both at once or will that disrupt the balance? Should I change the foam filter block as well?

Thank you!

--Natalia.

Hi Natalia, I have the flex 15g and same media, if I remember correctly from when I set mine up they suggest that the ceramic rings should be changed after 6 months. I ended up buying some seachem bio media and some extra net bags and stuffing that in as that stuff isnt recommended to be changed just rinsed in tank water, I'm unsure why they suggest changing the ceramic rings as that's what we need for the bacteria maybe someone else with better knowledge can enlighten us on that one.

 

[madmark285]

It's not a planted tank and I cycled it for two weeks before adding fish.

To cycle a tank, you need a source of ammonia to develop a colony of bacteria which consumes ammonia. To cycle a tank without fish, you need a product such as "Dr. Tim's Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums". If you did not use a product such as this, you have not cycled your tank.

My suggestion, leave the filter alone, just leave it run. Do not add any more fish and test every day for ammonia. If you start to see ammonia in your tank, do water changes to lower the ammonia levels to save your fish while you establish your bacteria colonies ie: bio part of filtering.

Once cycled, treat your foam filter and bio-rings as a living organism. Rinsing them out in hot tap water may kill the bacteria and you may have to cycle the tank again.

 

[seangee]

To answer your question my Flex 15 is around 30 months old and the original sponge block is still in perfect condition. I just rinse it weekly in the water I remove when doing my water change. I recommend changing 70-80% every week which is what I do for my flex. I never actually used the biomax or carbon as I bought the tank used without filter media and the sponge was all the local fish shop had at the time, but I have never needed these.

I previously had biomax in another tank and filter for 15 years without changing it. Its best to use the biomax and rinse that weekly, but leave the carbon in a cupboard as @essjay suggested. Its only effective for about a month and not needed unless you are removing medication.

 

[Essjay 135]

Hi she's @AdoraBelle Dearheart... I'm @AilyNC

Ooops sorry, I got the wrong name

 

[AilyNC]

Ooops sorry, I got the wrong name

I'm honoured

 

[Essjay 135]

Your names both begin with A. I am famous for mixing up names that begin with the same letter. That shop, you know - Asda, Argos, Aldi I'll get the right one eventually......
My grandmother was as bad. She had three great grandsons, Richard, Roger and Robert. She always said the wrong name.

 

[AilyNC]

Your names both begin with A. I am famous for mixing up names that begin with the same letter. That shop, you know - Asda, Argos, Aldi I'll get the right one eventually......
My grandmother was as bad. She had three great grandsons, Richard, Roger and Robert. She always said the wrong name.

I get butt dials a lot I usually have to urge the person to put a fake entry above mine. Being first in a phone book is a tad annoying

 

[Natalia]

Thanks so much everyone; this is all really helpful and I'm grateful for the advice. Really appreciate it!

--Natalia