How long can i use my ceramic rings

[terror]

Just wondering, how long can i use my ceramic rings? or do they have to be replaced regularly? How do you know if they are clogged up?

I'm currently preparing a tank for cories, planning to reuse old ceramic rings, i boiled them for a few minutes, how do i know if these ceramic rings are still ok? also does ceramic ring change waters ph? I just experienced a ph crash in 1 of my tank. when i moved the fish to another tank, I cleaned all the media in the filter which consist of foams matala mats and ceramic rings, and i change 70% water, I retested the water and it was still at 4. our tapwater is at 7.5, even after leaving it overnight it would stay at 7.5 , but our water is quite soft i think 2-3 dkh?

thanks.


thanks.

[Mgamer20o0]

you can clean it every so often so they dont clog but not too often since thats where a lot of bacteria grows.... as long as they are not falling apart they are fine.

[CHOMPERS]

If you are concerned with cleaning the pores in the ceramic, then you can bleach the rings. Follow this with several rinsings and then a soak in water with extra dechlor (if you have a chlorine test kit, it wouldn't hurt to test the water).

Ceramic rings can last forever if you have good mechanical filtration prior to the rings (a requirement for fine pore bio-media).

[terror]

thanks :) my problem is I don't have a pre filter to my powerhead. but the ceramic rings are located at the last compartment of the overhead filter.

[CHOMPERS]

Can you make room in one of the first compartments for filter floss (or Poly-fil)?