Downward Dog

Hi all,
I have an AquaTech 5-15 filter in my 10 gal tank. My tank started on April 3rd, and I've changed the filter once (it was falling apart already). I inserted a new carbon/pad and put the spongy pad from the old filter on top of the new filter. I had a mini-cycle occur -- isn't this why I kept the old pad, to prevent this?

Anyway, my question now is about filter care -- I couldn't find an article about this, so if there is one, could someone please point me in the right direction?

1. Do I clean my filter (the plastic parts of it) at all? Do I let the green stuff grow on it for the most part until it gets really gnarly?

2. What does carbon do? At first I tried cutting slits in the back of my filter pad after 3-4 weeks, but it was nearly impossible to get out since it was wet. Should I not use carbon at all, and instead slit the pad BEFORE putting it in my tank? Or do I do as I did before, but just keep getting mini-cycles? Or did I not put enough of the old sponge back in?

So many questions:-) Thanks,
~Lenore

Lucy

I have a couple of Aqua-Techs.
1) I wipe mine down and rinse it out with used tank water when needed.

2) You'll get a lot of opinions abour carbon and it basically comes down to choice.
I cut the pad and dump out the carbon while it's dry. Your right, it is hard to do when it's wet.
In one of my tanks, I don't use the cartridge. Instead I bought extra sponges and stuck them in the back. They last a really long time.
I use carbon to filter out meds. Otherwise, I don't usually use it.

Downward Dog

Thank you!

jwokmuba2

so carbon isnt a regular thing in fish tanks, i always thought that the tank needed it to clean out some of the bad stuff whats a carbon pad? why do u use it? this is something im not familar with. also what is a sponge?

Lucy

It does help obsorb some of the bad stuff, but with regular water changes, I don't see much of a difference with or without it some do and choose to use it.

When I mention I cut the pad....I put a slit in the blue spongy stuff attached to the catridge or I use filter pad in place of the cartridge. It looks like this:
Filter pads
The sponge is the coarse sponge in the filter (unless you're using a bio-wheel)

The benefical bacteria grows on your sponge/bio-wheel, pads or cartridges.

SWilkins

I agree with Lucy some people use carbon and some don't. I am one of the ones that does not use it unless I need to filter out meds. I just use polyester quilt batting that you get in the craft section and it works great just make sure they are not additives in it first. I have a couple of those filters too and just a wipe and rinse usually takes care of it. I don't care too much for the green filling my filter so I just peek in and see how things are looking in there when I do my water changes.

jwokmuba2

so you guys cut to fit ur own filters? never thought of that. well my filter comes with a biosponge/filter thingy that slides in just after the carbon filter. does this do the same as yours? and could i go with out the carbon and still be okay? oh and sorry downward dog, i dont mean to impede.

Lucy

That's what mine does, yes. Plus I stick extra in the filter in case I need a quick cycle for another tank.
You can try no carbon, see what you think

kimb

Hi Lenore, I have Aqua-tech filters and I do as Lucy said. Dump the carbon out before changing (you can always have carbon in an old nylon stuffed into your filter when and if you need it and I keep extra pieces of sponge/media stuffed into all my filters all the time (since you never know when MTS will strike). There is a thread on here somewhere about someone using those green scrubbie pads for media. Try annd keep your old media as long as possible, only rinse in tank water when you absolutly have too. If removing carbon do it before it gets wet. If you can, stick an extra pad in now and leave it...it will be waiting there full of bacteria when you need it! Good Luck

Butterfly

All good advice
When the cartridges for my filters wore out years ago this is what I bought to replace them :
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...22&pcatid=3622
They are just plain sponges easy to rinse in used tank water and last forever. They can be cut to fit what ever filter you need them for. I have some that are 3-4 yrs old. this is not only economical but good for your tank.
If for some reason you need to remove meds you can put charcoal in a sbag or cut off panty hose foot and put it in the filter then toss it.
just some thoughts
carol

redlessi

I have this same filter on my 10 gal tank and I use the filters that go with it but I add some additional filter pads. You can buy a large piece and cut it to size. This will allow your original filter to last much longer and I always rinse the original filter pack with tank water at least 1-2 times before changing to a new one. You can rinse the pads the same way.