Dozey

I’ve been reading a lot of opinions on FishLore about filter material replacement and the opinions are as many as the fish lovers here. And of course the different filter systems members have are also vast. So I’ve heard opinions of everything from “replace half the material regularly” to “rinse it but never replace it”. As I want to do the right thing I thought I would throw my two bits out there and see what get tossed back at me.

I have a BIO-Wheel Power Filter Penguin 200 filter. Love it or hate it, it’s what I’ve got. So the BIO-wheel is designed for the growth of bacteria and is meant to never be replaced. The filter itself holds to cartridges that hold both filtering material and charcoal.

So it is my thinking that I can change the filters as the BIO-wheel should help maintain the bacteria levels. And, if I alternate the filter changes, that would also aid in maintaining the bacteria levels.

It’s also my thoughts that by never changing the cartridges and simply rinsing them that the charcoal would eventually become saturated and ineffective despite any amount of rinsing. I also question if rinsing filter material is completely effective. I can’t help think that despite rinsing the material eventually it would become saturated enough to constrict water flow and cut down on filtration.

OK so obviously I’m of the opinion that I should change my filter cartridges although I’m really questioning how often. I know the fish-guy at the LFS would tell me “replace both filters twice hourly,” but I’m more interested in your opinions.

Now it’s your turn. Go ahead and beat me up, I can take it. Looking forward to your responses.

Shawnie

I dont change my filter media unless its just about falling apart..and from rinsing and tank maintenance, I know this is happeneing so I have a new filter seeding in the tank a few weeks prior to even changing it out....I run charcoal in my overstocked tanks but I change just the charcoal out every 3 weeks....otherwise I dont have charcoal in any other tanks..I just cut a slit in the bag and dump out the charcoal...you will read thousands of different views...if your water parimeters are good, keep doing whatever you are doing and dont fix somthing that isnt broke

capekate

Hi Dozey
I also use the alternative filter method. In that, I have two filters going and when I take one filter media out to rinse, I leave the other one alone. As far as rinsing charcoal, I do not think that is very effective, as the charcoal does loose its purpose after about three weeks. I dont think that I have seen advice here on rinsing out the charcoal, just the sponges.
In my tanks with only one filter, I have two sponges in the box. I then take one out and rinse, and leave the other alone.
Folks that have the cartridge with media floss and charcoal together, I have read that they usually just cut the bag and removed the charcoal. This way they can continue using the cartridge for a long time with a rinsing out schedule.
I do not use charcoal in any of my tanks and never did. Its good to use when you are trying to remove medications from the water or to help with cloudy water.

Lucy

Right Kate, I have cartridges with charcoal and make a slit and dump it out.
After that I rinse them in used tank water during routine maintence.

I also keep extra sponges where every the fit.

Dozey

Thanks folks... great responses, this is just what I was hoping for.

Doesn't the charcoal help reduce tank odor?

Annadvn

I use filters with the bio wheels, and change out the filter cartridges about once a month. I remove the carbon first as (depending on where you read) it doesn't last long and everything it has absorbed leaches back into the water.

The fluval canister filters i have for each of the 125g tanks, i replace the filter when i notice the amount of water coming out reduce, then i remove all the filter floss, rinse the sponges in old tank water but i don't touch any of the ceramic rings etc.. which are there just for the bacteria.

I agree with you that the bio wheels are there for the bacteria and see no reason why you cant change the filters out when they are needed without damaging any of the bacteria. I have even seeded a new tank by changing over the bio wheels to create a new tank that has the needed bacteria.

Hope my ideas help you.

Anna

Lucy

I've never had odors coming from the tank with or without charcoal.
I only use it if I'm filtering out meds.

Shawnie

um there shouldnt be any tank odor

sirdarksol

There is a tiny amount of odor from the algae that grows in all of our tanks. The filter can help with that. But I have never noticed the odor unless I empty a tank out, and I remove the carbon from my filters like other folks around here.

Dozey

Thanks so much every one, great responses and exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get. I'm also thrilled that I will soon be saving a lot of money not buying new filters.

Shawnie

I dont have odor or algae..am I being left out of something LOL

sirdarksol

Every cycled tank has algae (there's a type of algae that's actually one of the nitrifying "bacteria"), though well-kept tanks don't show it (it's microscopic, and fish like snacking on it). I can't smell my own tanks unless I empty them, but I have friends with sensitive noses who don't own any aquariums who can smell (or say they can smell) the aquariums.
I think it's kind of like how dog owners can't smell that unmistakable dog smell (or don't notice it).