Another Bio media question

mostlycichlids

mostlycichlids

Cichlid Specialist
Apr 27, 2006
2,664
3
38
New Mexico USA
www.freshwatermadness.com
Real Name
Paul
I have seen a lot of people say they replace their sponges after some time. I have never replaced any of my bio media in years just rinse and re use. I really dont see the need. Is there something I am missing? Should I replace it every year or so? I was more curious than anything I cant see fixing something if its not broke. Actually I hardly ever clean mine maybe every other month or so.
 
yea, you shouldn't replace them. all u have to do is wash them in tank water and that's it!
 
Paul, I've seen that product. What's up with its little bed of needles? Is that just to increase surface area for bacteria?

If you don't mind my asking, what's wrong with your old bio media blocks? I thought those would work great AND last forever. As long as you had fine-grained mechanical media in front of it, to prevent the block pores from getting clogged.
 
I am still using those I wanted to try these to replace my carbon bags I want to use them with my bio blocks. The fins are supposed to act like bio balls and trap more bacteria. I wanted to add floss and sponge to them instead of the carbon piece. I posted a while back about what to use instead of carbon I was thinking this might work. I would perfer the blocks but I would need like 90 dollars worth I was trying to be conservative. I was mainly referring to the filters I use that I have not converted to the blocks and just in general.
 
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Given enough time and rinsings, sponges do break down and need to be replaced. Most other bio-media will clog no matter how much mech media you use and how well you try to rinse it. Sponges will normally outlast most other bio media over time.
 
Whats the point of a filter if its activated carbon is depleted and its filled with crap? Its called a filter and when its old it doesnt "filter" , So why would you save it?? Just get one of those bio-wheel filters, let the bacteria stay on the wheel, and change cartridge every month.
 
I have mostly bio wheel filters I have been told carbon is pretty much usless unless you change it weekly that is a waste of money to me I would rather have a ton of bio media and just have to replace a little floss now and then. That is my thinking. carbon and catridges can get expensive when you have

2 penguin 350s
3 penguin 200s
3 whisper 60s
and 4 other smaller filters.
on six different tanks.
 
Two Tank states a definite fact, sponges do eventually physically break down.

In general, carbon and bio media do different jobs; one is not a substitute for the other.
 
rbishop said:
Two Tank states a definite fact, sponges do eventually physically break down.

In general, carbon and bio media do different jobs; one is not a substitute for the other.
Click to expand...
So I am a little confused in this thread I got advise that I did not need the carbon and I could load it up with bio media and some floss to catch small particles and such. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81151

Is this correct I feel I am getting two different opinions. as far as the sponges I am assuming they last a very long time.
 
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