When to change filter media?

[jonny toe tags]

OK..so i know listening to the suggested filter media replacement from the manufacturer is just wrong..what would be the best time to do filter media changes?
I have a Fluval canister filter with the 4 sponges, carbon and the Biomax.
i have only chaged the carbon after a med treatment about 2 months ago.
The biomax is still the original..since Jan.
I always rinse out the foam screens and carbon with tank water every water change.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I'd say foam every three months or so. Carbon, perhaps every other week or once a month. Actually, you don't really need the latter except to clean up any chemicals that are left over, seeing as how it's salient purpose is to provide chemical filtration.

As for the biomax, I wouldn't know.

 

[daisycat]

We have a fluval on our 30g - we have had it for well over a year and have never changed the biomax. Added carbon a couple of months after getting it and never changed it since then. Also added peat at that time and have never changed that.

We changed the sponges a couple of months ago but we didn't really need to, just read somewhere we were meant to change them, wish we hadn't bothered now.

We rinse the sponges monthlyish (or if it gets blocked up), we don't rinse any of the other bits.

If it ain't broke then don't mend it is my current motto!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

But if you don't know it's broken or it loses effectiveness, your fish'll be stressed out and dead. You won't be able to fix a "broken" fish.

 

[jonny toe tags]

So i'm guessing i 'd do 2 out the 4 foam and not change more than one type of media at a time.

I was thinking of ditching the carbon for something else...what could i use in it's place? Peat?

 

[daisycat]

You know it's not broken because the water parameters are stable and there is no #### floating in the water!

We do water changes and clear out the filter - what more can I say! No need for a shaky head I don't think

The only time our tank went really wrong was when we cleaned too vigorously, so I won't be making that mistake again.

 

[daisycat]

Jonny toe tags...

If you really want to change bits then definitely only do two sponges at a time. Only do 50% of the biomax at a time.

Carbon and Peat have different effects - why do you want to change the carbon for something else anyway?

We have the peat as it makes the water better for our turtle, but I don't think it's needed for pure fish aquaria.

 

[big_fresh]

Added carbon a couple of months after getting it and never changed it since then.

You may want to remove the carbon....i read somewhere that if you leave it in the tank too long it leaches back what it soaked up.

Or your tank will start giving off an odour

 

[daisycat]

You're probably right big_fresh. We have had new carbon to put in for ages but never quite got around to it (naughty I know). The tank has never smelt though so am not overly worried...I'm thinking that the worst case scenario is really that the carbon is not doing anything useful at the moment.

Will get hubby on the case later!

 

[CFC]

Carbon only has a life of around six weeks maximum in a aquarium and needs to be changed at that time minimum, if it isnt changed some of the toxins it has soaked up will leach back into the water.

Biological filter media like foam only needs to be changed when it is falling to pieces, i have had some of the foam sponges in my filters for over 4 years and only give them a quick rinse in tank water every few months and they are still going strong. The same goes for pre filter material like floss pads but these can be washed under a running tap to get them really clean as they are non biological media

 

[rollntider]

I fill my sink with water add stress coat to remove chlorine and then rinse my media in it. I only do 2 pads at a time as they become clogged.