conlee121

I really don't understand this process. Could someone please explain what a bio-filter is and how it comes to be? Also, if you have to change your "filters" are you back at square one? Hellllp, please!


Thanks for your replies

Alessa

Hello, welcome to fishlore.

whenever you hear the words "bio-filter" you are hearing about the nitrogen cycle. they nitrogen cycle are a series of chemical changes, and the establishment of good bacterial colonies that must happen in your tank in order for your fish to live.

this is the link to the large explanation, http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm but i'll make it short for you.

Fish produces poop which converts to ammonia. ammonia is lethal to fish. as ammonia rises there will be a bacterial colony developing which will convert it to nitrite. Nitrite is also deadly to fish. As nitrite rises ammonia will fall to 0. Then, nitrite will start falling as another type of bacteria colonizes the tank's surfaces (and MECHANICAL filter media) converting it to nitrate. Nitrate isnt damaging to fish as long as it stays under 20ppm.

This whole proccess takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months... (even heard cases in which it took longer). Some people take some "disposable" fish, put it in the tank and let them poop to complete the cycle. I (as well as most of the forum members) prefer the "fishless" method which consists on adding pure ammonia drops into an empty tank until it cycles. We prefer this method since it is more humane and no fish is harmed in the proccess.

Now, if like you, have fish in the tank and are currently undergoing the cycling proccess (the establishing of the bio-filter or good bacteria). you need to do daily 50% water changes (preferibly with a water conditioner called Prime) until your tank water tests 0 for ammonia and 0 for nitrites with some nitrates showing.

The most accurate test kit is the Master Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

And yes, Most of the good bacteria lives in the filter of your tank... if you change it, you will be left pretty much like in the begining.


Good luck!

-Alessa

conlee121

Thanks so much. We have had to change the filter. Is there any way to preserve the bacteria that we have built up?

Alessa

is the filter that you took out still wet? how long has it been since you took it out?

if you threw it away there is no way to preserve the bacteria. the only other way is like I said, doing daily 50% water changes until your test reads 0 for ammonia and nitrite.

most of the bacteria live on the filter, thats why you should never change it unless it is basically falling appart. But you also have some bacteria in your gravel and decorations so if you do the water changes, it shouldnt be much until your tank cycles again.


some products claim to introduce bacteria to a tank. The only ones that actually cycle your tank completely in 1-5 days is BioSpira or Tetra Safe Start. The only difference is that BioSpira is harder to find, and more expensive since it has to be kept cold. Tetra Safe Start does not need to be kept cold and a lot of LFS have it, (Ive heard Wallmart does).

Other products speed up the cycle like Seachem Stability and Stress Zyme. they may not cycle your tank instantly, but they do speed up the proccess for some people. (AVOID a product called CYCLE)

To protect your fish, you shoud condition your water with Prime during the daily water changes... (Unless you use BioSpira or Tetra Safe Start because they are not compatible).

Good luck, let me know how it goes

conlee121

yep, threw them away. I am using stress zyme. I am 14 days into cycling, is it too late to start using the bio spira or safe start if I can find them?

Thanks for your help.

zizziz

I thought you need to change the filter about once a month, is this not the case? when you do change the filter, are you supposed to rinse it with tank water before you put it in rather then tap? I am, unfortuantely, in the same boat, I have fish in my tank already and I am going through the cycle. you are saying that i should be doing 50% water changes every day? thanks

Alessa

zizziz, no. IF you change the filter you loose all your bacteri and your fish will be in big danger. The filter shoud NEVER be replaced until its basically disintegrated. The proper way to clean and reuse an old filter is, with every week's water change, swish it in some old, used tank water from the change. Also, like you said, you should never use tap because you'll kill the beneficial bacteria.

and, conlee, it is never too late too add biospira as long as youre going through the cycle. It is WAY faster than stress zyme which only seems to work when you already have some bacteria from an established tank. If you can find biospira (preferibly Tetra Safe Start). it will prevent you from those daily 50% water changes and you wont have to worry about it ever again.

zizziz

we are talking about the white bag with the charcol in it that came with the whole filter unit right? I just bought a box of them replacements today at petsmart, 8 for $14. what is going to happen, or is there anything i need to do when i eventually have to replace it when it is almost disintegrated? btw, how long will it last before its shot?

Alessa

yes, that one. it is the "house" of the beneficial bacteria. and yes, you should only replace it when it is basically falling appart. in this proccess, you put the new filter in the tank so that it is colonized by the good bacteria for a couple weeks before taking the other one out, and again, it is just when it is falling appart.

0morrokh

I have never replaced the filter media in any of my currently running tanks.

If you absolutely need to change it (as in-in the case of a hob filter-it is completely clogged and swishing in used tank water doesn't help), then take out the old media, put in the new, and cut a piece of old media to stick it behind the new media. Basically you want to leave at least part of the old media in for a few weeks till the new media is seeded. Otherwise your tank will go thru a mini cycle.

You definately do not want to mess with the filter media while the tank is cycling.

jdhef

Also, many people on this forum don't use the charcol. It has been said that once the charcol gets saturated, it can actually release all the stuff it collected back into your tank. I still use the charcol in my canister filter, since I can change it out every month.

My 5 gallon tanks have HOB filters and I have opened up the media cartridge and removed the charcol, since I will be using the cartridge for much more than a month.