adding bio cylinders to HOB filter

I recently bought a used HOB filter don't know the brand. This is my first HoB and I was wondering if I could put those white cubes you put in canisters to increase my bio load. Or do they sell something like this for HOB filters

 

There is no reason why you can't. But, unless you are overstocked, and you are having problems with ammonia and nitrite, I don't see any reason to do this.

 

Well I have two cichlids MalawI and I was planning on adding a feather fin catfish and some more cichlids the only thing the owner knew about the filter was it was a 60 gallon also how much should I replace the pads??

 

Sure you can. I have them in all my filters to seed them with bacteria. It can only help, and if you suddenly need a quarantine tank, you can take a small amount of the bio media from the established tank to jump start the quarantine tank.

I either put the bio media in media bags, or a cartridge, depending on the filter. Just be sure to put it after the filter pads, and give it a rinse in tank water once in while when doing tank maintenance to remove any gunk on it.

 

Well I have two cichlids MalawI and I was planning on adding a feather fin catfish and some more cichlids the only thing the owner knew about the filter was it was a 60 gallon also how much should I replace the pads??

As long as the filter media is not falling apart and is allowing good water flow, you shouldn't change it. Just swish it in the old tank water when you do water changes. When you throw away used media you are throwing away beneficial bacteria. The instructions say to change filters because they want to sell you more v

 

As long as the filter media is not falling apart and is allowing good water flow, you shouldn't change it. Just swish it in the old tank water when you do water changes. When you throw away used media you are throwing away beneficial bacteria. The instructions say to change filters because they want to sell you more v

Agreed. Back when I ran HOB filters I would use the aquaclear sponges until they literally fell apart. It took years for that to happen.

 

So I guess if I took them out and washed them with just water would be a bad idea( I was planning on doing this soon)

 

You just don't want to wash them with chlorinated water. The easiest thing to do is use the old tank water because it's the right temperature and has no chlorine. If your tap water has chlorine it will kill the befeficial bacteria.