Aqueon QuietFlow 10: Do I need to replace the Specialty Filter Pad?

I have a ten gallon tank with an Aqueon QuietFlow 10 (HOB) filter. I know that carbon filters have to be replaced once a month. However, the instruction manual also says that I have to replace the "Specialty Filter Pad" every month as well, which is confusing because I have two Tetra Whisper HOB filters in my twenty gallon tank and they don't have any such filter pads that need replacing, only the carbon cartridges. They seem to do the filtration job just fine without them.
My question is, is the Specialty Filter Pad that I also have to change a gimmick to get me to buy more monthly supplies from Aqueon, or do I really need to change it? Furthermore, I was under the impression that this Pad was meant to be a nesting place for bacteria for the biological filter, and that changing it could ruin the Nitrogen Cycle in the tank. Does anyone have experience with these filters? I'm not sure whether I should change this pad or not.

 

Hi, welcome to the forum

I have aqueon filters. You must have a newer model that has two pads? carbon and a specialty filter pad? Yeah, its just a way to get you to spend money. You don't need to remove either until they're falling apart and then I would only remove one at a time a few weeks apart.

Just rinse them in old tank water with your weekly water changes.

 

Happy to be here!

So they just built in another disposable part that needs changing then, lol. That makes sense, thank you!

 

I have a ten gallon tank with an Aqueon QuietFlow 10 (HOB) filter. I know that carbon filters have to be replaced once a month. However, the instruction manual also says that I have to replace the "Specialty Filter Pad" every month as well, which is confusing because I have two Tetra Whisper HOB filters in my twenty gallon tank and they don't have any such filter pads that need replacing, only the carbon cartridges. They seem to do the filtration job just fine without them.
My question is, is the Specialty Filter Pad that I also have to change a gimmick to get me to buy more monthly supplies from Aqueon, or do I really need to change it?

Is this a pad that goes under the outflow for extra filtration? Looks kind of like a Jenga piece?

I just got a Quietflow 75 (used to be Quietflow 55/75, as far as I can tell) and it has two rectangular pads that the water drops onto as it leaves the filter box. The instructions made it sound like these were some super special nifty pads, but I'm 99% certain that they're identical to a big cut-to-fit pad that I already had. I'm not going to spend a lot of extra money buying the the super special Aqueon pre-cut pads when I already have a giant mat, and I have no intention of changing them every month. They're positioned at the tail end of the filtering process, so it's not like they have much junk clogging them up.

Take this for what it's worth, but I don't replace my pads once a month. I've had a filter for five months, and I have yet to replace a pad. I did cut a hole and dump the carbon out, though.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what it is, like a little stair-shaped thing right at the mouth where water pours from the filter back into the tank. It seemed pretty redundant to me?
You haven't replaced it at all and your fish are alright? It's probably fine, then.
I'm not sure if it actually has a purpose or if it's just another thing to replace, but I might play it safe by replacing it every two or three months maybe? I guess I'll see if my water quality deteriorates before I go out and buy replacement pads.

Thanks for the input!

 

I have a Whisper EX20 that's been in service since May. I rinse the filter pad every week in old tank water, but have never replaced the pad. I test every week before the water change and parameters are stable--the tank is understocked and nitrates are regularly at 5ppm.

The Quietflow was put into commission at the beginning of September, so six weeks. Again, I rinse but don't replace. I'm considering replacing the cartridges because I don't like the Aqueon cartridges, but nitrates hold steady at 10ppm each week. I had honestly forgotten that I had those extra pads so I've never rinsed them. Oops! I'll do it this week for sure.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what it is, like a little stair-shaped thing right at the mouth where water pours from the filter back into the tank. It seemed pretty redundant to me?
You haven't replaced it at all and your fish are alright? It's probably fine, then.
I'm not sure if it actually has a purpose or if it's just another thing to replace, but I might play it safe by replacing it every two or three months maybe? I guess I'll see if my water quality deteriorates before I go out and buy replacement pads.

Thanks for the input!

That's funny that they added that. I always cut my own and put it there under the blue outflow waterfall grid because it quieted the outflow down so much and if I ever need to start up a small QT tank, I take one of the small ones so I have a cycled tank.

Remember, you cycle a filter, not a tank for the most part. So I wouldn't plan on replacing them ever unless they get too thin or fall apart. Make sure to rinse weekly in old tank or dechlorinated tap, that's what will keep the particles out of your water and the water clean. I use my own pads now in my aqueons that last a year or longer. I bought the Fluval C4 pads which are almost a perfect fit. I also like using the Marineland Right Size bonding pad and I just cut those to fit.

 

Hmm, alright, just rinse and don't replace? That'll definitely save me some money. Also I should just ignore the indicator light, right? It goes off every two weeks for me to replace the carbon cartridge completely; I've been considering just removing the light instead lol.

 

I saw that they had added that light. Can it be removed ha ha? Yeah just ignore it. You really don't need carbon except to remove medicine. As long as you're doing 30-40% weekly water changes your water shouldn't ever smell. Adding plants will give it more of an earthy smell, like cut grass.

 

Yep, it pops right out.
Alright then!

 

Hmm, alright, just rinse and don't replace?

In old tank water or conditioned water.

Also I should just ignore the indicator light, right?

OH my GOSH I HATE that thing. My water level is too high for it because my filter is stuffed full of crushed coral and biomedia. (hey CindiL, I just put in some Matrix!) I put the LED in for like 2 seconds and then popped it back out.

 

So I can swish it around in the bucket of siphoned water and just put it right back in.

Yeah, I'm not keeping the light in there, I'm glad it's easy to remove!

 

Hey I wanted to tag along to this thread... if I may.... I have a whisper 20I (might upgrade to a larger one if I'm getting a 20 gallon instead of my current 10 g tank) and was wondering why it's not picking up the fish poop at the other side of the tank?

 

HI Nyla, the filter isn't picking up the poop because that's really not what it's for. The filter is to remove nasty things from the water itself and to keep the water flowing and not stagnant. To get the poop and rotting food off the substrate, you'll need a gravel vacuum.

 

Switch away from all the stuff that came with the filter and do custom media in bags instead, and a foam sponge for biomechanical filtration. Your fish will thank you if you never remove the sponge.

 

Agreed with junebug.
You'll save a lot more $$ down the line as well.
Just cut a foam sponge place it in the bottom, get some floss place it above that, and a mesh bag and stuff it with a bio media of your choice. Jam pack that thing to and place it in your filter. Boom. Done.

And you can run carbon, Purigen, or whichever you prefer. 100 times better than the stock pads

 

Oh wow awesome advice thank you everyone!, but for someone who is clueless... can I please get pictures of what these big words mean?

 

Okay now in my tank 20 g I got 2 filters a whisper 20 and a whisper 20i. Media inside the carbon and bio scrubber and sponge it came w , plus another sponge and Purigen. Filter number 2 deep blue poly pads, an old carbon media for seeding/ I think a sponge is in there not sure if it came w it, and the bio scrubber. I hope this is okay... all the extra stuff slowed down the flow coming in on the whisper 20, and I saw some Purigen in the water... hope it's okay this way? Opinions welcome. If this isn't right lol idk what is.