Sparrow

I have a Fluval 205 and have been replacing the media in it with exactly what it came with, carbon & biomax. After reading some things about how carbon is severely lacking, I want to annage what I put in the filter but I have no clue what to use. The book that came with the filter has about 9 things to choose from, ammonia remover, biomax, carbon, clearmax, peat granules, zeo-carb, opti-carb, phospahte remover, and nitrate remover. I only have 3 baskets! Sheesh! LOL Anyone have any suggestions on what to use? I don't really want to just wing-it. Thanks a bunch!

Alessa

Welcome

One should never replace the filter media, because it is the place where the beneficial bacteria lives.

What I would recommend is just leaving the floss part of the filter (the home of the bacteria) and removing the carbon. Whenever the floss looks dirty just swish it around some used tank water and put it back in place.

The only one time when one replaces the floss is when it is basically falling appart, and before it is replaced, the new filter should be placed in the tank several weeks in advance to allow it to develop bacterial colonies.


DONT use any ammonia removing thing. It will only prevent beneficial bacterial colonies to develop. On a healthy, cycled tank, there shouldnt be any need for all those additives.

How are your readings? ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Sparrow

I have never replaced the sponges that are in the filter, I do rinse them in the water from the tank from a water change. I just tested the water and though it is due for a water change I'm sure the nitrate is to high, it's at 80, while the nitrite is at 0. So if I'm not replacing media, I still want to get rid of the carbon. Should I put anything in its place?

ETA: My testing strip doesn't have ammonia on it. One more thing to pick up at the pet store tomorrow.

Alessa

dont use the testing strips. They are not accurate at all.
Switch to API Liquid Master Test Kit, you will get more accurate results.

Dont put anything in its place, just leave the floss. If anything, all of those extra things to put in the filter will just mess up your tank stability most likely.

Also be careful, if the nitrate reading is accurate, a reading of 80 is toxic.

Sparrow

Well, I did a water change, took the carbon out and retested with the strips and it says 40 now. I will pick up a better kit tomorrow. Thanks for the advice.

ETA: Bought the better testing kit and everything is at 0.

amx304

Why not go ahead and fill the filter baskets with biomax? I took out the carbon and filled all the baskets in my 305 with biomax. The more beneficial bacteria, the better.

Sparrow

I would totally do that with the biomax. Do you ever replace any of it though? Or can it just all stay in there indefinately?

amx304

The biomax stays in there. It's where a lot of the bacteria grow so you wouldn't want to change it out.

clinton1621

You will eventually have to change it, especially with the biomax ceramics... they will slowly become clogged with debris and waste and become much less effective at keeping good bacteria levels. I would only recommend changing it when it looks like all the little holes and pores are full of brown/green gunk that wont just rinse off (which will probably take several months) with clean dechlored water, or tank water you removed for water changes. The main thing is you dont ever want to replace all the filters media at one time, change one basket at a time and then wait 3 weeks to a month before changing out anything else, this applies to sponges as well, which eventually need replaced too but not until they are falling apart as mentioned by others.
Also, you may want to put a thin layer of fiber floss (sold at most LFS in a large bag like pillowstuffing) in the very bottom basket of the fluval, just enough to cover the bottom of the basket.... this will catch any smaller debris that the sponge lets pass through and could possibly clog up the biomax ceramics, you can just toss the fiber floss out whenever you check the filter and put a fresh layer in.

Sparrow

Ok, clinton1621, thank you. I wasn't to sure if floss was the same as sponge and your post clarified everything mightily (especially the changing of media).

clinton1621

No Problem

Oh and after re-reading your post about nitrates... anything above 20 is toxic to fish... ideally you want it as low as possible but under 20 is MANDATORY if you want healthy fish

amx304

OK...I was told by friend, a longtime fishkeeper, that he never changed his media in any of his canisters. He just used some tank water every three to four weeks to rinse any debris off the media. He had no issues after running the same media in his canisters for years. Is this not a good idea? I would have though that most, if not all, of the debris would just rinse off like it does on the regular foam filter.

Edit: He did tell me that he used some filter floss in the bottom of the lower basket to catch most of the debris that would have gotten into the biomax. I'll be adding some to my canister this weekend. Would this make that big of a difference?