how often should media be changed?

[FisheyLisa]

I am doing water canges, for the ammonia. I bought a 12 pack of whisper bio bags and activated carbon, which is why I wondered if this solution is viable. I am annoyed that my LFS has huge chunks of money I could have spent more wisely online and I am tyring to be smart about my equipment.

By the way, the LFS told me 2 months to the filter change (after I told them enough information that they could make an educated guess), but mine clogs a month in. I thought I had the same filter as you, GALAGA-GIRL, but I don't think I do. Yours sounds fancy!!

Ta-ta
lisa

 

[TKOS]

Buy some sponges for the whisper. Plave the old bio bags with carbon in them into a sealed ziploc bag and save them in case you need to run carbon in the future.

We have all spent money on stuff we didn't need but have since learned better.

Some sponges for an AquaClear filter should work fine, they don't need to be a tight fit, they just have to have water running over them.

 

[TKOS]

Buy some sponges for the whisper. Plave the old bio bags with carbon in them into a sealed ziploc bag and save them in case you need to run carbon in the future.

We have all spent money on stuff we didn't need but have since learned better.

Some sponges for an AquaClear filter should work fine, they don't need to be a tight fit, they just have to have water running over them.

 

[renie]

Hey guys, please slow down!!!!! Newbie here and very confused!! Are you saying that I should take out the bag w/carbon inside it and put "sponges" instead? Are you saying we don't need to use the carbon filters?

 

[Harlock]

Not using carbon is what a lot of folks around this board recommend. If you have live plants, I certainly suggest not using carbon as well, except in specific instances such as removing certain chemicals (say if you treated your tank for something with a medicine and now want to remove the medicine). The problem with live plants and activated carbon is that the carbon removes "good" chemicals that your plants might need. There are alternatives, like the suggested sponge. You can find larger pieces of bio-sponge at most LFS and then just cut it to fit your filter. You remove the carbon cartridge and replace it with this sponge. Voila.

 

[fishfreaks]

hm. interesting, so then what do you have to say about the hot magnums??

 

[TKOS]

Can't say too much myself, I have never used one. My Aqua Clears have been serving me well for the past few years. If I get a bigger tank I will probably switch over to a canister filter with sponges and bioballs.

 

[gsk177]

I would say the general concensous on this forum is to not use carbon filters.
The reason is this:
Carbon is used to absorb. It absorbs chemicals in the water and impurities. In about 2 weeks tops, the carbon has lost its ability to absorb, thus rendering it useless. It doesn't hurt anything by any means to have the carbon in your tank, but in reality it is just a waste of money.
If you ever medicate your tank due to some ick problem or other fungus problems, then you will need to use carbon to absorb the medications AFTER the treatment has ended.

Most hobbiests would be better served by replacing the carbon with some other form of biological filtration. I would suggest Eheim Ehfimech. Although its generally used for mechanical filtration in canister filters, it provides a large area per individual piece, on which your good biological bacteria can grow.
Simply throw away your carbon filter and place a media bag filled with Eheim Ehfimech in its place. What you essential do is replace a useless expensive proprietary carbon bag with an inexpensive, highly effective bacterial growth colony. You will be getting 100 times the benificial bacteria growth and you wont be stuck with replacing those expensive carbon bags anymore.

I would also have to make this suggestion. Replace your existing filter with an Aquaclear rated for your tank size. Not only are Aquaclear filters very cheap, but they are VERY VERY inexpensive to maintain.

Ultimately all your filter needs is a mechanical filtration device (a sponge or something that traps large particulates) and a place for biologicals to grow (ie. Eheim Ehfimech). Rarely if ever do you need more than that.

On my 55g tank, I have 2 Aquaclear 500's. In one filter I have 2 sponges. In the other I have one bag of Eheim Ehfimech and one sponge. If I ever feel the need to add carbon all I have to do is take the bag of Eheim Ehfimech and drop it in the tank and put a bag of carbon in the filter. After a few days I throw away the carbon bag and put my other bag of Eheim Ehfimech back in the filter.
To maintain my filters, I rinse one sponge from one filter a week alternating sponges each subsequent week. I never have to worry about disturbing my biological filtration that way.