AquaClear 50/200

[littlefishie]

How often should the Bio-Max media be changed? A friend of mine just picked some up for his filter, and since he realized the sponge should not be changed every 2 months [like the box says] he doesn't trust the recommendations on the box for Bio-Max. I have the same filter but don't use Bio-Max, so I wasn't sure and told him I'd ask the experts.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi littlefishie

You have a good filter there!

That Bio Max is some new gimmick they must have recently come up with, and isn't necessary at all. Please read my comments about how to use these filters on this thread:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=74382

 

[littlefishie]

Fortunately Rob's got lots of filter floss from an old corner filter, so I'll have him use some of that. I was just a little confused cos I'd never used Bio-Max before. It came with his tank kit, so he really didn't get much of a choice in purchasing it. I'll have him use some extra filter floss, and then not worry about replacing the Bio-Max. Thanks!

 

[swampcat]

The bio max is for bacteria to live, I would never replace it. Rinse once in a while during water change and leave it in filter forever. This type pruduct has been sold and used in canisters for years.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi....Inchworm helped me out with my AquaClear as per an earlier thread which she posted. All the advice has been working. I purchased extra boxes when I got the filter, but, in retrospect, if the most important thing about one's biological filtration is surface area for bacteria to colonize, I would think that stacked sponges/filter floss would blow away the Biomax. I think the sponges are easier to clean than filter floss tho'.....man o'man...rinsing out 'clotted cotton' wasn't fun. The sponge squeezes clean easier. But...at 2 or 3 bucks for a whole bag of floss vs 5 bucks for sponges, tossing out a thin layer of gunked up floss seems easy while preserving the sponges. I will admit tho', I'm a chicken to go without charcoal. As for the Biomax, I can't see any reason why one would have to toss out colonized stones every 3 months. We don't change our gravel every 3 months, right? I'd say save the money for replacement sponges. Any comments Inchworm? Thanks. SH

 

[vantgE]

The box recomends every nine months because it clogs and eventually the pores throughout get cutoff from the watter and the surface area for bacteria you are left with is much smaller possibly just the outsides i plan to replace mine about once a year but be carfull not to change it all at once

The bio max is however intended more for the canister filters like the 403 which I use