When Do You Replace Your Filters?

[WillyRBeek]

The particular pump that I have has the activated carbon, the BioMax tablets and the foam, how often should I be changing these? I had a fish tank probably 10 years ago and I know we had to change the filters every so often, but they were also different filters then these ones.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[rabbut]

Carbon is only active for a few days, and is not needed so long as you keep up with weekly waterchanges. I'd scrap it at the end of the week Get some more bio-max or similar in it's place. Foam is replaced when it literaly falls apart. Untill then, ring out gently in old tank water whenever the flow starts to drop The bio-max should be swished in tank water every 6-12 months if that and NEVER replaced, as this is where your good bacteria lives, and removing it will caurse a mini or full cycle, depending on what you do to your other media at the same time. Never change more than 1/4 of your media in one go for this reason

HTH
Rabbut

 

[WillyRBeek]

Carbon is only active for a few days, and is not needed so long as you keep up with weekly waterchanges. I'd scrap it at the end of the week Get some more bio-max or similar in it's place. Foam is replaced when it literaly falls apart. Untill then, ring out gently in old tank water whenever the flow starts to drop The bio-max should be swished in tank water every 6-12 months if that and NEVER replaced, as this is where your good bacteria lives, and removing it will caurse a mini or full cycle, depending on what you do to your other media at the same time. Never change more than 1/4 of your media in one go for this reason

HTH
Rabbut

I've had the tank up and running for about 3+ months now, so what you're saying is I can pretty much remove the carbon bag at this point?

 

[rabbut]

yup, you won't be benifiting from it, and it is using space in your filter that could be used for something more useful, like biological media

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Yes dump the carbon now. Carbon can only soak up so much before it reaches full capacity and then will leech contaminants back out into the water. I have never used carbon and do regular water changes.

 

[WillyRBeek]

yup, you won't be benifiting from it, and it is using space in your filter that could be used for something more useful, like biological media

All the best
Rabbut

So I actually managed to find my pump set up instructions, and it says to replace the carbon every month, the foam every 2 months, and the BioMax every 3 months. I'm assuming I should just disregard this?

 

[drufly]

Good info did'nt know that myself. I took my carbon out when dosing for internal infections, then put it back. will be removing it altogether just need more sponge lol

 

[jflowers]

So I actually managed to find my pump set up instructions, and it says to replace the carbon every month, the foam every 2 months, and the BioMax every 3 months. I'm assuming I should just disregard this?

I would yer, good info above, Ditch the carbon and rinse the other media in old tank water when the flow slows. Manufacturers are always after extra sales, there really is no need to change the other medias unless as stated they are falling apart.

Jon

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Keep the bio max in forever really-i have mine in for 3 years now and just swill it in tank water to get any residues off it. Only use carbon to remove medications after treating fish. And use yours sponges as long as they are still in shape really. I wash them in tank water every two weeks or so until they fall apart and then replace them. Remember these pump/filter people want you to buy filters-thats where they make their money- Bit like epson printers. 50 quid for a printer and the 30 quid for the inks each time they run out.!

 

[WillyRBeek]

So I actually managed to find my pump set up instructions, and it says to replace the carbon every month, the foam every 2 months, and the BioMax every 3 months. I'm assuming I should just disregard this?

I would yer, good info above, Ditch the carbon and rinse the other media in old tank water when the flow slows. Manufacturers are always after extra sales, there really is no need to change the other medias unless as stated they are falling apart.

Jon

The carbon has been removed.


Earlier in this thread someone mentioned biological media. Is that something that's carried by most Pet Stores?

 

[Piltdownpaul]

The bio max is the media that your bacteria colonies will grow on-nitrosomas and nitrobacter which consume ammonia and nitrite . You can buy solutions to kick start the colonies to grow but you would only need to do this if you were doing a fishless cycle perhaps with a new tank or if your cycle had crashed.

 

[rabbut]

Bio-media is anything the bacteria in your tank can colonise, so bio-max, sinter glass, foam, bio-ball, efisubstrat, even the metalic scouring pads you can get for washing up (assuming they aren't used) can all be considered as bio-media. Loosely packed filter floss can do the same job, but it tends to clogg too easily.
Chemical media such as carbon and greenX are all needing regular replacement, but these are generaly not needed, hence why few of the experiencd members on here use them Some chemical medias can also be detimental to a tank, such as Zeolite and the aforementioned greenX
Mechanical media, such as smooth ceramic rings and tightly packed filter floss remove larger particles. The first example can be treated as bio-max, and floss as chemical medias, replaced as it is clogged

Nmonks did a good thread on filter media, [topic="139488"]here[/topic] and it is well worth a read

All the best
Rabbut

 

[darryl864]

OK after reading this thread I have decided that I do not require my carbon in my filter but I would like some advice on what to replace it with. The bottom of the filter is a piece of foam with large pores and above that is the Carbon.

Should I be thinking of something about ceramic rings for the bottom and moving the foam the the top or should I be thinking of a finer foam for the top?

 

[vinylman]

Should I be thinking of something about ceramic rings for the bottom and moving the foam the the top

That will be fine; cram in as much as you can.

 

[rabbut]

OK after reading this thread I have decided that I do not require my carbon in my filter but I would like some advice on what to replace it with. The bottom of the filter is a piece of foam with large pores and above that is the Carbon.

Should I be thinking of something about ceramic rings for the bottom and moving the foam the the top or should I be thinking of a finer foam for the top?

Either would work admirably I suppose the choice would realy depend on your other media, and whether or not you are wanting to cut down on the ammount of maintanance you do

What other media do you have, and in what order. Also, are you looking to reduce the time between cleaning this filter, or do you prefur to give more space to bacteria to reduce the chance of any issues with ammonia or nitrite?

All the best
Rabbut