Steve Adams
New Member
what are the time lines for cleaning and changing media in the aquaclear.?
aquaclear 30
- Thread starter Steve Adams
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swampcat
Fish Fanatic
Rinse foam and bio max every week or two in water removed from tank during water changes. Throw carbon away and don't replace. Foam may last up too a year . I replace after 6 months or more. Bio max never needs replacing just a rinse.
You can put poly fiber or cut to fit filter padding in space used for carbon. This will polish water . This can be rinsed and reused depending what material you use, and replaced every month or so. Poly will need to be replaced not rinsed.
You can put poly fiber or cut to fit filter padding in space used for carbon. This will polish water . This can be rinsed and reused depending what material you use, and replaced every month or so. Poly will need to be replaced not rinsed.
It depends on the stocking of the tank. A lightly stocked tank, you could get away with rinsing the sponge, floss, or biomax once a month. A heavily stocked tank, or one with more messy fish might require weekly maintainance.
If you decide to change out the sponge or floss, let the old media float in the tank for at least a few days, a week is better. By replacing the media you are removing the bacterial colony that keeps your tank cycled. You are asking for an ammo and/or nitrite spike if you don't leave the old media in the tank. Many people run 2 sponges in Aquaclears. This way you can replace one, leaving one of the old ones.
You don't have to replace the media until it is quite literally falling apart. I've got an AC 200 with a sponge that is at least 5 years old, the floss is 2 years old. Rinsing when dirty is all they need. Most all of my tanks are running Aquaclears, from minis to 300s. Those sponges last a long time. If you feel you must change them after 6 monts or a year, send the old ones to me, I'll put them to good use.
Tolak
If you decide to change out the sponge or floss, let the old media float in the tank for at least a few days, a week is better. By replacing the media you are removing the bacterial colony that keeps your tank cycled. You are asking for an ammo and/or nitrite spike if you don't leave the old media in the tank. Many people run 2 sponges in Aquaclears. This way you can replace one, leaving one of the old ones.
You don't have to replace the media until it is quite literally falling apart. I've got an AC 200 with a sponge that is at least 5 years old, the floss is 2 years old. Rinsing when dirty is all they need. Most all of my tanks are running Aquaclears, from minis to 300s. Those sponges last a long time. If you feel you must change them after 6 monts or a year, send the old ones to me, I'll put them to good use.
Tolak
Steve Adams
New Member
thanks.
I will put the floss in instead of the charcoal. so Just rinse the biomax once every two weeks and just do the other two alternating 2 wk periods.
I have it on a 15 gal, with 1 bala shark, dwarf gourami, 5 platys, 1 common pleco, and 1 neon tetra.
the dominant male platy took out 5 of 6 neons.....I will be putting 2 blue rams and 2 cockatoo cichlids in this tank and it will be finished.
im also going to put in a fluval internal filter in there for water movement as well as some extra filtration.
should be good to go then....2 week water changes too.
I will put the floss in instead of the charcoal. so Just rinse the biomax once every two weeks and just do the other two alternating 2 wk periods.
I have it on a 15 gal, with 1 bala shark, dwarf gourami, 5 platys, 1 common pleco, and 1 neon tetra.
the dominant male platy took out 5 of 6 neons.....I will be putting 2 blue rams and 2 cockatoo cichlids in this tank and it will be finished.
im also going to put in a fluval internal filter in there for water movement as well as some extra filtration.
should be good to go then....2 week water changes too.
swampcat
Fish Fanatic
The sponges don't fall apart, but if you notice they seem to shrink a little and do not fit as well after a while. I too only have AC filters. ac 150 thru 500's.
The two sponge, is also a great idea. The floss seems to polish water a little more though.
HBH co. makes filter padding that is poly fill in thin pads you cut to fit, they will fit between any media you use. They can not be rinsed too easily though?
Marine land makes cut to fit filter padding (rite-fit) This stuff can be rinsed quite a few times and works well. HBH @ $3 at petsmart Marineland rite-fit @ $7 . You get a lot of material for this price too.
Why not use a small powerhead or airstone for water movement?
The two sponge, is also a great idea. The floss seems to polish water a little more though.
HBH co. makes filter padding that is poly fill in thin pads you cut to fit, they will fit between any media you use. They can not be rinsed too easily though?
Marine land makes cut to fit filter padding (rite-fit) This stuff can be rinsed quite a few times and works well. HBH @ $3 at petsmart Marineland rite-fit @ $7 . You get a lot of material for this price too.
Why not use a small powerhead or airstone for water movement?
Steve Adams
New Member
I could for sure use a air stone, but I was thinking that the small filter would help keep the water clean no?
What does the charcoal do in the filter anyways?
What does the charcoal do in the filter anyways?
swampcat
Fish Fanatic
The carbon absorbs oders, chemicals and such. The largest debate I have found to be is how long does it actually work before its saturated??? I can not answer this question and really don't think anybody else really knows either? Some manufacters suggest replacing every two weeks to a month???
I had always used carbon (charcoal), and in the past two years or so stopped using it all toghether. I have found no difference without, and it is the most exspensive of all the filter media's too. I spend very little $$$ on filter media, I just rinse it until sponge shrinks (6 months or more). I have a 100 gallon, 55 gallon, 20, gallon and just added a 35 hex to my collection. No carbon in any, water crystle clear, no oders either. Save carb to remove medications and such.
If your unsure it will not hurt anything and actually provides a great place for bacteria to thrive!
The most important thing of all, provide a home for bacteria such as your bio max, rinsing sponge only in aquarium water during partial water changes, alternating two sponges as noted in the other post is a great idea too. Bio max will never need replacing just rinse, I have been using these ceramic rings forever, just recently aquaclear came up with the idea of using this for their ac filter line. Have been made for canister filters for years, I always say anything made for a canister filter will fit in an aquaclear.
If you think you need extra filtration why not add another aquaclear , The internal filter will take away from your tanks appearence and internal space .
I had always used carbon (charcoal), and in the past two years or so stopped using it all toghether. I have found no difference without, and it is the most exspensive of all the filter media's too. I spend very little $$$ on filter media, I just rinse it until sponge shrinks (6 months or more). I have a 100 gallon, 55 gallon, 20, gallon and just added a 35 hex to my collection. No carbon in any, water crystle clear, no oders either. Save carb to remove medications and such.
If your unsure it will not hurt anything and actually provides a great place for bacteria to thrive!
The most important thing of all, provide a home for bacteria such as your bio max, rinsing sponge only in aquarium water during partial water changes, alternating two sponges as noted in the other post is a great idea too. Bio max will never need replacing just rinse, I have been using these ceramic rings forever, just recently aquaclear came up with the idea of using this for their ac filter line. Have been made for canister filters for years, I always say anything made for a canister filter will fit in an aquaclear.
If you think you need extra filtration why not add another aquaclear , The internal filter will take away from your tanks appearence and internal space .
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