ruthiesmom

So how often should you change the filter? I vac and do any where between a 25-50% water change everyweek. Water perimeters are stable. No cloudiness. What are the thoughts on this. My filter is just your run of the mill Wallworld filter that comes with the tank at set up.
Thanks in advance. So for the questions lately just did not know that keeping fish needed so much care.
Tina

Shawnie

once a year unless they are totally falling apart...and once a month or every other month rinse it in used tank water that you have removed in a bucket..just swish it around dont really scrub it persay ..and two to three weeks prior, have the new one in your tank somewhere getting seeded

fishlover78

I never use carbon unless I am trying to remove meds or a tank is overstocked,If you are useing carbon it should be changed bi monthly, other wise your mechanical media should be rinsed in tank water when it becomes clogged. because you are using a filter that take pre carbon filled cartridges I would cut a slit in the cartridge, remove the carbon and fill it with filter floss, most people on fish lore rinse there filter media when it gets clogged and don't replace it until its falling apart (about a year) because the media is where all the beneficial bacteria grows. hope this helps! -fishlover78

ruthiesmom

So in otherwords don't listen to box and be changing them every 3-4 weeks. Go figure. I knew it did not seem right but I just was not sure.
Thanks
Tina

fishlover78

yep, don't listen to the box! Lol! -fishlover78

fishlover78

the evil box just wants to suck more money from you for its cartridges

Shawnie

you only need to change out the charcoal if you use it every 3 weeks...NOTHING else tho!

fishlover78

yeah shawnie, but the filter she has takes pre-assembled all in one cartridges, so I told her to cut a slit in the cartridge, pour out the carbon and use the cartridge carbon less. that way she doesn't have to chuck ALL her BB (beneficial bacteria) every 3 weeks. do you understand what I'm saying?

Shawnie

I do but this statement "So in otherwords don't listen to box and be changing them every 3-4 weeks" makes me think otherwise...once you cut the hole, you cannot put carbon back in there

fishlover78

I mean DON'T USE CARBON AT ALL.

ruthiesmom

So now I am confused. No or yes It is a carbon cartirige. So am I supposed to change them or not? And if i cut the carbon out then what do you use?
Tina

soldieroffortune1974

ok,to alleviate the confusion and save lots of money.

1) There's no need to change the filters every month,manafacturers get more money and there's no need.

2)The filters only need to be washed off to get rid of gunk build up

3) can be re-used until they fall apart

4) carbon removes ammonia from the water (acts like a magnet and adsorbs it from the water) ammonia is needed by the bacteria for the bio-filter (nitrogen cycle)

You can use carbon or not,that's specifically a personal choice. I DO NOT use carbon except in quarantine to remove meds.

Instead of using the manufacturers filters use these:

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/sc..._scouring.html

WITHOUT cleansers,soaps,chemicals...........Don't worry,the package says "not for aquarium use" but are safe as long as THERE ARE NO CLEANSERS,and last FOREVER (literally)

The ones I am referring to are the blue or green pads in the middle of the advertisement,they come in an open package (not plastic wrapped,the ones in plastic contain chemicals,soaps and detergents)

You can buy them anywhere for $2 and can be cut down to any size with a pair of scissors.They are thin and sometimes you need 3 or 4 to fill the gap the normal cartridges use. I stuff 8 or 9 in the hole,and pull 1 or 2 out to seed a new aquarium (almost instantly cycling ANY aquarium).

I have these stuffed in my DIY canister filters as well.The best filter media you can buy.You can also use these.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

I use a combination of the scotch pads and nylon scrubbers,they work excellent and never need to be replaced.

ruthiesmom

Thank you SOF1974 that explains that. Got it now.
Tina

fishlover78

well, He cleared that up fast

soldieroffortune1974

Glad I could help (and keep money out of the manufacturer's hands) MUAHAHAHAHAHAAA

fishlover78

Lol muhahahahahaha!