Amnagrla

Okay. I have a 10 gallon tank... I've had it for about 7 months now. I've never changed the filter. I think it's probably about time... lol I have a few questions

1) How often should filters be changed?
2) If you only have one filter in your tank... how do you go about doing it without ruining the cycle??

jsalemi

First off, what kind of filter is it? If it's a HOB (hang on back) with a slide-in type filters, they should really be changed no less than once a month. If it's in-tank, someone else will have to recommend when to change it, since I've never used one.

Most of the beneficial bacteria live in the gravel, so changing the filter shouldn't cause too much of a problem. But the more we know about what type of filter you have, the better advice we can give.

Butterfly

I have to respectfully disagree with you Quite a lot of the beneficial bacteria lives in the filter pads and can cause a mini cycle if completely changed out.
Amnagria,
Filter pads need to be swished in used tank water about every other water change unless the water flow slows down before then. This rinses the gunk out of it while preserving the bacteria. You can continue to do this until the pad starts to fall apart.
Now you can change filters one of two ways. Slide a new filter pad into the filter about a week before planing on throwing the old one away. Or slide the old one out, slide the new one in and leave a piece of the old one in to seed the new one. If you have two compartments in the filter only change one at a time.
What ever type of filter you have you can apply those principles.
I know the instructions on the packaging says to change them once a month but it is totally unneccessary. Thats just a way for them to make more money. I use sponges instead of filter pads in most of my filters and you can re-use them for years before replacing. Hope that helps

jsalemi

Of course, the best choice in an HOB is either the Marineland ones with the bio-wheels, or the Hagen Aquaclears with separate biological materials. Then the issue of changing the filter pad isn't as critical.

Kevin

i have 2 filters on my 29 gal. so i just change one and about 3 weeks later change the other
...but since you only have one, i would use one of the ways butterfly suggested

swords3711

you should change it about once a month
what type of filter do you have

Butterfly

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you and refer you to my above post instead of re-typing it
carol

Amnagrla

Thanks everyone!

I have a Whisper 5-15 for my 10 gallon. Butterfly, I do rinse it out about twice a month in the used tank water after my water changes. As it has been 6 months, I just figured it would be time to change it, however, the water flow hasn't really slowed down at all.

I've heard many different things about how often to change it. I appreciate everyone's opinion!

Butterfly

Always welcome! I have one of those and it's easy to stick new media in about a week or two before your ready to throw the old one away. I use mine until their ragged It's got lots of good bacteria in it, I hate it when I have to throw it away.
Carol

Amnagrla

lol I hear ya. I went out and bought one today. My latest problem is trying to get rid of my snails without chemicals. I thought I only had a couple like 3 days ago.... I pulled out about 20 tonight just off the glass! I'm pretty much picking them out when I see them.... **Sigh** But thanks for the help!

Butterfly

Welcome.
As for the snails- a bit of over feeding can cause a huge snail population explosion. Since a fishes tummy is the size of his eye could there be a bit of over feeding going on
a couple of extra water changes and a couple of good substrate vacuums should see your snails diminishing some.
carol

Amnagrla

hahaha again... thanks!!!

My tank is WAY overstocked because I don't have a growout tank and have lots of molly fry from 2 weeks old to 2.5 months old in there, on TOP of my normal adult fish. I'm working on giving away the older ones... but I do admit, I probably overfeed because I want to make sure everyone is fed. lol But I've been staying on top of water changes and my parameters have been fine. I bought the new plants about 2 weeks ago. I've always had plants from those tubes you can buy at Petco? and now I decided to get plants from actual tanks and that's where I think the snails must have come from. I wasn't worried about it really until today when I saw like 50 inside my colleseum! lol

Thanks a lot, Butterfly!

Butterfly

Any time !

Kevin

good luck w/ the snails...i had the same problem in roscoes tank a while back, i just kept taking them out as i saw them...then one day, they all just died, guess they ran out of food