Filter Question.

Most the time when that happens the filter pads are just cloged up with solid matter. I wouldn't have replaced it as it contains a large biological colony that you need to filter the water, all you have to do is when you syphon off water during a water change, syphon some of it into a bucket, take the pads out and wash them in that water to remove the solids stuck on them, that should take care of your problem till they get full again.

pads "gunky"

Water flowing from where the tube comes out of the tank means that the filter is clogged, and very little water is being filtered. However, I think a lot of people here, myself included, would recommend against replacing it. A light rinse in tank water, (from water changes) will rinse a lot of the gunk off, and not kill the beneficial bacteria that grows in/on it, and should get it flowing again. In your case (two filters) replacing one shouldn't hurt, but still isn't neccesary.

Any filter works three ways(usually); Mechanical, Chemical, and Biological. Filter pads or inserts, for power "hang on back" filters, do all three to some degree.

The floss, (white fluffy stuff) catches bits of fish wastes, uneaten food, ect. Thats the mechanical part.

The Carbon inside the filter pads will absorb some chemicals, at least it will for a few weeks when it is new. thats the chemical part.

The biological part is the most important part. The good bacteria that grow on the insert convert ammonia (poisonous to fish, comes from fish wastes and uneaten food) to nitrITE compounds. (nearly as poisonous) Others of this beneficial bacteria then convert the nitrITE compounds to nitrATE compounds (not nearly as poisonous, only in larger quantities. Regular water changes get rid of it.)

Anyway, in a nutshell, when you replace a filter pad, the beneficial bacteria in your filter are gone. In an overloaded tank (which many are!) with only one filter, this can result in "Bad Things Happening" (think dead fish) In a healthy, reasonably stocked tank, the effect isn't as bad, but still stressfull on the fish. A good deal of this beneficial bacteria also live in your gravel, so it isn't as bad as tossing fish into a newly set up tank. (ammonia builds up from day one, and the bacteria can take up to two months to take hold!)

The best part of all this: You said you had two filters, right? You are probably safe in replacing one of the filter pads if you wish, (the good bacteria are still in the other insert and the gravel) and replacing the other insert in a couple of weeks. Don't do 'em both at once though. In your case I would say the worst thing that should happen is you have to pay to buy new filter inserts, which really isn't neccesary. (rinse em and reuse em!)

whew.. sorry for the lesson if you already knew all that!

You could also throw a new pad in the filter while the old pad is still running. The new pad should start to grow a good number or beneficial bacteria within a few weeks. Then after, say a month, you could chuck the old pad and replace it with the new one.

I really hate those type of pads. Unlike the ones made for filters such as aquaclears, the filter pads mentioned above give you no choice but to pitch them. They have the carbon in them, which is usually poor quality and short lived... and as mentioned, they are easily clogged.

jamzwayne said:

Now, OnyxFishies you mentioned rinsing em off in tank water...I used regular tap water from the fossett....another "no no"?

BTW...thanks for the help, and an awesome leason learned.

Click to expand...

Well, The chlorine in tap water (unless you have well water?) will kill some if not all of the bacteria in the filter pad. I wouldn't think it is a huge deal unless you soaked em for some time. I don't know how quickly the bacteria would die off, but I would think it would take a more than the brief exposure of a rinse to kill all of it off. Even if it does, you still have the good bacteria in the tank gravel and more than likely in some of the other pads, a little is on the glass, ect. Just keep an eye on ammonia and nitrites, do water changes if they come up, and you'll be fine. A little and short spike would result if it all died, and that is much easier to handle than the original cycle.

And your welcome, I enjoy helping where I can.

*shrug*

I always give my filter media a good rinsing in tap water (turn the tap full blast and spray down my media) and it's never been a problem.

As for the filter and the carbon bags. I have a similar filter (some Top Fin branded thing that came with my 55 gallon kit, I think it's made by Whisper) and I pitched the bag things right away. I found a couple of rectangular pads that fit in it perfectly and stuffed in a couple of Aquaclear 'cube' type sponges. It works pretty well but the rectangular pads get cloged pretty quick so I think I'm gonna pitch them all together.