Biorb & Food (seperate Issues)

[TommySide]

In my book that comes with my BiOrb it says to change the filter every 4-6 weeks, is this right? Will it just not just kill the good bacteria?

also, which food is best, pellets or flakes? or is it dependant on the fish?

cheers

 

[waterdrop]

In my book that comes with my BiOrb it says to change the filter every 4-6 weeks, is this right? Will it just not just kill the good bacteria?

also, which food is best, pellets or flakes? or is it dependant on the fish?

cheers

1) I won't answer specifically about the biorb filter but in general you need to override any instructions like that with the things you learn here. Some people keep filter media running for years and years, just, for instance, squeezing out a sponge gently in tank water, thus preserving the bacteria and putting it back in the filter. With filters that take proprietary inserts you will have to improvise, but many here have figured those things out so maybe some will answer or you can ask those more specifically. When you do eventually replace media you do it in a carefully orchestrated way that ensures the bacteria get a chance to multiply from old media to new media before the old media is discarded.

2) Food is dependent on fish. The vast majority will take flakes (if you're in doubt), but you should tally individual fish needs and plan it out.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Helen G]

I had a biube and fell in to the trap of changing the filter before I knew what I was doing. I would suggest you just wash the filter in your old tank water to remove crap and detrius, then replace in your tank. The biorbs / biubes ceramic media does also hold a lot of bacteria, so make sure you never wash this out either. If you need to change the filter for a first aid filter say, then I suggest you remove the ceramic chips in the new filter and put in the ceramic chips from your old filter. (make sure you don't put in the black ones, as these are carbon and will render the medication that comes with the first air filter useless.

As regards the food, it depends what fish you are going to stock.Black phantom tetras were my first fish in my biube (a word of caution though..... steer away from guppies, as the fry always used to get sucked / swim into the filter and die. Not a pretty sight

Hope this helps

 

[craig663]

I had a biube and fell in to the trap of changing the filter before I knew what I was doing. I would suggest you just wash the filter in your old tank water to remove crap and detrius, then replace in your tank. The biorbs / biubes ceramic media does also hold a lot of bacteria, so make sure you never wash this out either. If you need to change the filter for a first aid filter say, then I suggest you remove the ceramic chips in the new filter and put in the ceramic chips from your old filter. (make sure you don't put in the black ones, as these are carbon and will render the medication that comes with the first air filter useless.

As regards the food, it depends what fish you are going to stock.Black phantom tetras were my first fish in my biube (a word of caution though..... steer away from guppies, as the fry always used to get sucked / swim into the filter and die. Not a pretty sight

Hope this helps

Hi' Got a Bi-orb 60l (2yrs) and i change the filter not as often as suggested ! its difficult with the orbs i find! when i disturb the media it kicks up loads of waste and if that the case - feed less ! the orbs are terrible when feeding as the filter kicks the food out to the side and its not as even as a std tank - listen to what these guys apply to all tanks and judge it for yourself - too many fish - too much food etc etc - definately only wash the filter in the tank water around 6 weeks then again judge it as to how much fish and waste you have ! some plants are a bonus !