How often should you change pads/media in your filter?

[Mordred]

The guide book with the filter suggests changing the "biochem zorb" every 4 weeks, and the microfilter pad every time I clean the filter.

I suspect that this is to generate good business on the consumables!

In reality, how often should you change or clean the different parts of a filter?

 

[Hound]

I think before anyone really chimes in we should know what sort of filter you are using and tank size along with fish count.

 

[DEmigh]

This is an "it depends" answer.

Your skepticism about the schedule proposed by the manufacturer is well founded

Can you/do you test your water for the big three (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates)?

Adsorption resins like the product you describe shouldn't, IMHO, be necessary in a well managed tank. There are exceptions, but until we know more about your tank I would suggest you save your money.

When you examine your filter pad, if it appears loaded with detritus (i.e. fish poo) rinse it in dechlorinated water. Eventually, the filter pad becomes so coated with organic slime that the rinse won't improve the condition much. That's when you replace the pad. In the meantime, everytime you put the old pad back in, your saving a hundred million good bacteria from an untimely death.

How old is your tank? What size? How many fish? What else can you say about it?

 

[DEmigh]

Hey Mordred,

I just did a quick search of your other posts and have determined that you have about 14 fish, and your tank is about 5-6 weeks old. Without going through every one of your 23 (at the time of this reply) posts, I don't know your tank size or water parameters.

Here's a suggestion:

Visit the Members Aquarium Specs forum on this very board, read the good instructions in the "sticky" at the top, and post your specs. You can then link your signature to your thread in the Specs forum. That way, anyone who reads your posts can get all of the vital info with a single click.

This will save you from endless repetition of certain basic information that most anyone will ask for when they try to help you with a problem.

 

[TKOS]

Just to tell you my situation. I replaced all my filter media in my HOB filters (Aqua Clear and Whisper) with some generic aquarium sponges cut to fit. They have been in use for over a year now and all is going well. I keep a small box of carbon on hand incase I need to add it for the removal of old medicines. Other than that I just rinse them out as was mentioned above.

 

[Mordred]

Thanks for the replies so far - very helpful indeed.

I've setup my tank specs section - hopefully it works.