WolfPack21

Hey Everyone, my tank is almost fully cycled with a nitrite reading of 1.0 and a nitrate reading of .5. It is time to replace the carbon and the foam, so should I wait for the tank to fully cycle before I replace anything? Thanks.

aquarist48

Afternoon Wolf. I would suggest leaving well enough alone for now until your tank completes the cycle. If your tank is starting to smell then you could possibly just add some more carbon into the tank, in a mesh bag after you've rinsed it. I wouldn't risk having a set back or delayed cycle at this point by removing anything.

pepetj

I am running all my filters (AquaClear among them) with the same media they came with and then some extra I've placed over time except for activated charcoal which I replace every 3 weeks (If no replacement at hand I leave that filter without it) and, in those where I use peat, I replace the peat fiber/pellets every 5 or 6 weeks depending on readings of pH and KH.

Some experienced fishkeepers suggest replacing sponge media yearly (e.g. Peter Hiscock in Encyclopedia of Aquatic Plants) claiming that its capacity to sustain beneficial bacteria is affected due to variables I don't fully understand. Others, me included, think that as long as nitrogen cycle parameters are concerned (zero ammonia, zero nitrites, nitrates at expected range) sponge (and bio-balls, ceramic bio-media, etc) seems to work as usual therefor I let them be.

The maintenance I perform is just rinsing gently (never overdoing it!) in either water from the tank or treated tap water (whichever is easier at the moment). I keep multiple filters in all my tanks just to be on the safe side (not energy efficient but a safeguard).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

harpua2002

I completely agree with pepetj, only I don't run carbon in my filters at all (just a matter of personal preference, there's nothing wrong with using it). The company tells you to replace the foam block monthly so they can sell you a foam block every month. There is no real reason to replace the foam unless it is falling apart.

ABCDemily

Personally I wouldn't change out any of my filter media unless it's falling apart. I do wash the filtration foam once every three months in tank water. I should probably do it more but I'm scared for my precious bacteria!

As Harpua said, they tell you to replace it because they get more money, leaving you with a dodgy tank.

I'd clean it once every three months for about a year, mainly because then you won't lose too much bacteria and the filter should remain working happily. Obiovusly if it's super clogged and really nothing working then you have to rinse it a little more.

alicem

Great advise from all above.
Don't touch your filter for a month or two after the cycle completes. The good bacteria are very delicate on a newly cycled tank.
Until they get established on more surfaces of your tank, hands off!

Your sponge should be fine until it literally falls apart. When you get near that point, you could place a second sponge in the filter to seed it.
To do this, you may need to remove the carbon for the space in the filter.
My theory is: put the new sponge on top of the old one so any bacteria living in the old one can possibly get pushed up into the new with the water flow.

Once your tank and filter are established for 8 months or more, you should be able to up the cleaning timetable to
gently rinsing your filter components monthly, if you need to.
I agree with ABCDemily to be conservative with your cleaning for quite a while.
Your feeding and stocking will determine how often you need to clean filters.

Not for your new tank, but for everyone else that have ACs:
I wanted to remind everyone that the manufacturer suggests owners take the motor off,
clean the impellor and the hole it sits in every 3 or 4 months.
It gets pretty gunky in there!
alicem

Fishies-for-me

I have never replaced a aqua clear sponge. I had 3 of the 20 gallon ones for 10 yrs or so and never did anything to them except rinse them ,,,they never fell apart or broke down at all. The reason I got rid of them was cuz I moved and could not take them with me.

WolfPack21

Do I ever need to replace the "biomax?"

aquarist48

Morning Wolf. No. Do not replace the biomax. Rinse it in your siphoned tank water once a month and it will last for years. You don't have to replace the sponge either until it's absolutely falling apart.
Ken