cmoreland

So I'm thinking after 3 or so weeks with this aquarium I should change the filter media. It's an aquatech brand #1 filter. I'm not talking about the 'bio-filter' which the directions say not to change but rather the blue looking filter behind it with the carbon in it.

Should I wait longer? My tank is starting to smell rather funky. What say you?

Alessa

The thing is that the "blue looking thing" also contains most of the bacteria needed for the cycle... They attach to all surfaces.

Also, carbon does more bad than good sometimes, I would just recommend opening the bag, taking the carbon out, and leaving the empty blue thing inside.

Also, if it is really gunky, just swish it around some used tank water to get rid of the excess dirt. No need to change it.

cmoreland

yeah I figured it would likely start another cycle or mini cycle if I change it. Darn. I guess I'll just do more water changes. I think it's the 8 little fry in there that is causing the funky smell...too many fish.

coffeebean

i have an aquatech on my 20 gallon. on advice from here i have stopped changing the cartridge. i sliced open the bottom of it and dumped the carbon. i cleaned it in some tank water from a water change to get the larger gunk off of it.

shadowavenger

Sometimes those need to be changed though. my first cartridge lasted about 3 months before the fibers became completely saturated, and that even after cleaning in tank water. when it gets to the point where the water is back flowing from the intake side, that means the filter is saturated and should be change, unless you can find a way to force the funk out of it, with an air compressor or something but that would probably kill the bacteria anyways, so probably just best to change it.

Shawnie

put new media in the tank or in the filter for 2 more weeks(to see the new media) ..then you can safely change it....but just rinse out in the mean time...for carbon, if you choose to use it, it does need to be changed out every 3 weeks to keep it fresh and to stop it from leaching the nasties back in the tank

agabr123

carbon is really your call, for me it wasn't easy to change since i have HOB filters so you may decide it's more work than it's worth. IMO it doesn't make enough of a difference in terms of the health of my fish to unduly burden yourself

shadowavenger

I never actually noticed any difference with carbon. they say it removed odors but even when I use it I still can smell the fishy odor. I think that its best used for removing excess medications or chemicals that may have been added for whatever reason, but other than that its practically useless.

aquarist48

I suggest keeping carbon in the filter and changing it every 3 weeks. It's been my experience no carbon = fowl smelling tank and murky water. Carbon replaces elements that dissipate over time. However, I've noticed that some use it and some don't.

http://www.fishlore.com/fishdictionary/a.htm

shih-tzu mom

Hi: i take out the carbon in the filter and i put the carbon in a little bio-bad and hang it in the tank-and keeps my water clear and reminds me to change it with no hassel from the filters. bella

Shawnie

that wont do much bella as the carbon works best when the water filters through it ...its probably kept clean from your maintenance

cmoreland

Ok, so there is a lot of different opinions about Carbon usage. I currently have some 3 week old carbon in my filter...something new to think about.

Is the carbon filtering out the StressCoat I put in the tank after water changes? Is it filtering any of the salt?

Shawnie, you say change the carbon...if I understood you correctly you are saying to put a new filter media in the tank somewhere for a couple of weeks (the carbon is in the filter out of the box) and then change it once it's grabbed a few good bacteria? This I can do and it's a sound idea but I have 3 week old carbon in my current filter...

BTW - that darn ICH has infiltrated my tank! So I'm upping my water temp to 85F and adding about 1-2 tbsp of salt per 5 gallons, so I should have about 3-4 tbsp in there now and with the heat speeding up their (the ickies) evil little asexual reproduction and fish sabotaging schemes I should be able to suffocate them when they are in their free floating stage! *slowly clenches fist*

agabr123

the carbon shouldn't be filtering out stress coat or salt, but it WILL filter out medications so you should definitely remove it if you're adding meds to the tank, and put it back in if you need to remove meds. otherwise IMO it's just easier to not use any carbon at all, and it honestly doesn't make that much of a difference

you don't need to add the salt for ich, just the temperatures will do the trick. make sure though that you do very thorough gravel vacuums to get up all the spores and add an air stone or bubble wand to make up for the decreased oxygen due to the temperatures.

Fishies-for-me

I don't use carbon and my tanks are crystal clear and no smell. I have never had a smell from a cycled tank. I have had smell from a tank with ammonia in it. A very bad smell...lol. My tanks if you open the lid and stick your nose in to smell will have a faint mossy or pondy smell...very faint and not unpleasant. Kinda like good garden soil.

haedra

I actually really like that smell.

cmoreland

Well, I guess it does rather smell like the LFS. Which I guess isn't a bad bad smell, just an....aquariumey smell. (not a real word)