I have had my 10 gallon tank in operation for about a month now. It is using a small Whisper power filter. How often should I change or clean the filter?
How often should I clean/change the filter?
- Thread starter redtail
- Start date
The only real answer is "it depends." If you are over feeding your fish (a common beginner's mistake) or have too many fish for a 10-gallon tank, you would need to change it more often than if you don't over feed or over crowd.
When it appears to be clogged up with yuk and waste, it's probably time to change it. Again, it also depends on what type of filter you have, but generally, about once a month or 6 weeks or so. At least that should be safe until you figure out what works best for you.
When it appears to be clogged up with yuk and waste, it's probably time to change it. Again, it also depends on what type of filter you have, but generally, about once a month or 6 weeks or so. At least that should be safe until you figure out what works best for you.
That depends on a few things, I have a few whisper power filters and the instructions says to replace the Bio Bag once a month, I dont use them unless I'm trying to rid the tank of meds. , tannins or cloudy water.
It also says it maybe necessary to replace the Bio Foam once a year. The foam rarly breaks down so you should'nt have to replace it for quite a while.
It basiclly comes down to population of your tank , how much do you feed and maintenance, what to clean, how often and how much.
I feed the recommended amount, my maintenance is this ( every Wednesday and Sunday I gravel vacuum, change 25% of the water each of the two days mentioned and with the old water I rinse the foam, so as not to harm the bacteria, I clean the tube and the impeller, maybe once a month I clean the filter box.
I have four tanks going right now(20 g long, 18 g tall, 10 g and a home made 2.5 g)(and soon to have another 20 g long and a 55 g up and running)but with the four tank going right now it takes me 2 1/2 hours Wed. and 2 1/2 Sun. So I spend 5 hours out of the 168 hours that are in a week cleaning four tanks(50.5 gallons of water) but with each water change and cleaning of the tank my fish are more exuberant and delight me with their child like playfull characteristics that it is well worth it....hope this helps... and hope you enjoy
It also says it maybe necessary to replace the Bio Foam once a year. The foam rarly breaks down so you should'nt have to replace it for quite a while.
It basiclly comes down to population of your tank , how much do you feed and maintenance, what to clean, how often and how much.
I feed the recommended amount, my maintenance is this ( every Wednesday and Sunday I gravel vacuum, change 25% of the water each of the two days mentioned and with the old water I rinse the foam, so as not to harm the bacteria, I clean the tube and the impeller, maybe once a month I clean the filter box.
I have four tanks going right now(20 g long, 18 g tall, 10 g and a home made 2.5 g)(and soon to have another 20 g long and a 55 g up and running)but with the four tank going right now it takes me 2 1/2 hours Wed. and 2 1/2 Sun. So I spend 5 hours out of the 168 hours that are in a week cleaning four tanks(50.5 gallons of water) but with each water change and cleaning of the tank my fish are more exuberant and delight me with their child like playfull characteristics that it is well worth it....hope this helps... and hope you enjoy
I am not sure what the difference between the bio bag and the bio foam is? What I have included with mine is a cartridge like insert with blue material in it. Which one is this? And am I missing something?
As far as I can tell, this is the only replaceable piece of the filter system.
As far as I can tell, this is the only replaceable piece of the filter system.
Ok, I went to the store to look at what they had (in relation to what I currently have). When I got my power filter, there was only a blue foam cartridge (no bio bag?). This is what I have been using for the last month. Seems to be working fine.
Didn't see any of those at the LFS, but mostly saw the cartridge replacements that were foam around a frame and also included bio bags.
Should I, in fact, be using bio bags? The one reply above indicated that he didn't use them, so I guess I am not doing anything wholly wrong. I need some help.
Didn't see any of those at the LFS, but mostly saw the cartridge replacements that were foam around a frame and also included bio bags.
Should I, in fact, be using bio bags? The one reply above indicated that he didn't use them, so I guess I am not doing anything wholly wrong. I need some help.
In 30+ years, I've never once used a bio bag. I'm here to tell you that you do NOT need them.
They may provide benefits of which I'm not aware; there are surely archived threads on the topic, and folks here are really anxious to post replies (especially after they see one of mine, go figure.)
Good luck to you!
They may provide benefits of which I'm not aware; there are surely archived threads on the topic, and folks here are really anxious to post replies (especially after they see one of mine, go figure.)
Good luck to you!