Rio 125 Filter Media

[ebrcknrdg]

I have read elsewhere on the forum that people take out the active carbon and nitrate removal sponges in their planted tanks and replace them with the standard Juwel filter media sponges for additional 'bio-capacity'

I aim to use real plants in my 125L tank with one or two Nutrafin CO2 Fermentors (i havent decided how many plants i want to put in yet)

Is it benefical or take these sponges out and replace them with the blue sponges instead?

 

[Christine1014]

I'm not familiar with that filter, but I can tell you you don't want carbon in a planted aquarium, and the plants need to use the nitrate, so having the filter collect it wouldn't be any good.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

I'm not familiar with that filter, but I can tell you you don't want carbon in a planted aquarium, and the plants need to use the nitrate, so having the filter collect it wouldn't be any good.

thats good news then as the carbon and nitrate pads are more expensive than the coarse and fine blue pads, AND they dont need changing as often.

Why dont they tell you all this in the handbook or at the aquatic centre, it would make life much easier!

 

[Christine1014]

In that case, I'll make you're life even easier -- DON'T replace the pads at all! Your beneficial bacteria that keeps your tank cycled live on those pads. Of course, your filter manufacturer wants as much of your $$$ as possible, so they're going to tell you to change them when they get "dirty." For the most part, though, that "dirt" is good stuff. When they get really bad, swish them around in dirty tank water (like what's in your bucket when you're doing a water change) and stick 'em back in the filter. Don't even wring them out or anything. Just give them a swish or two. You can use them until they're litterally falling apart.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

In that case, I'll make you're life even easier -- DON'T replace the pads at all! Your beneficial bacteria that keeps your tank cycled live on those pads. Of course, your filter manufacturer wants as much of your $$$ as possible, so they're going to tell you to change them when they get "dirty." For the most part, though, that "dirt" is good stuff. When they get really bad, swish them around in dirty tank water (like what's in your bucket when you're doing a water change) and stick 'em back in the filter. Don't even wring them out or anything. Just give them a swish or two. You can use them until they're litterally falling apart.

Thanx for the advice. I didnt realise you could leave them that long?! I was planning to change them every 5-6 months not every 3 months as they advise. In my 8 gallon tank i hadnt changed them for a few months and i had 5 fish die which worried me somewhat. I did a water change and changed the filter medium and all seems well. Perhaps it wasnt anything to do with the filter sponge after all!

 

[Rob.S]

I agree with Christine. I'm still using the original blue foam in my filter - They are around 8 years old, and look pretty much as good as new.

 

[Rhea]

I've had my 125 set up as a planted tank for about two years, I think the only time I've replaced a sponge is to use the old one to start cycling another tank. I just rinse each one every few months in tank water to remove any gunk that's built up, and yup I've stuck to the blue ones as the carbon and nitrate filters won't be that helpful in a planted tank.