Cleaning an aquarium

[Tempestuousfury]

3 points for me for bringing filter floss into the discussion

Thanks for doing that, I just might have found a way to save money.

Anywho, I asked this b/f but got no answer (maybe it was overlooked). "Is there a way to buy just the pads for the filter? I've got a Whisper filter and it comes w/ a reusable clip and frame. If I could just buy the pads, I'd be set w/ the floss and the frame..."

In other words, can I just buy the pads for the filter instead of a $12 box for 8...?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi temp,

Yes, you can buy refills for your Whisper filter. They are not pads, but little bags that slip on over the frame and the clips hold it in place. They are not really expensive because they last a long time.

Don't take them off and throw them away because they hold the bacteria. Just wash them off in used tank water and put them back. You can keep doing this until they fall apart. If you did use charcoal, it would go into the bag before you put the clips on. Then slide it into the slot in the filter.

If you do this, you won't need any filter floss. If you want to use the floss, take the frame out and just fill the chamber with floss.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

So when the instructions say "replace every month" it's b/c the pad gets dirty...? So if I washed the gunk of, I can reuse it? (I've tried this w/ other filters w/ carbon, but the gunk wouldn't come of, so I'm a bit skeptical)

 

[pondfreak4365]

You really don't want them to be spotless. The brownish stuff is your good bacteria! Like Inchworm said, keep em till they fall apart!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Ok, will do.

So that box of cartridges would last me months....

I wonder if I could get a cartridge like that for my Reagent filters...

 

[Inchworm]

So that box of cartridges would last me months....

Hi temp

Actually, each refill could last for months!

Another thing you might want to know is that you don't even have to clean it in tank water every week. You are actually better off if you don't clean it until it gets dirty enough that you start to worry about it getting clogged up. Then clean it so you do not strain the filter motor.

Look at it like this........The filter refill or wad of filter floss is like a mesh---strands of stuff with spaces between them. At first the spaces are big, but when dirt starts to collect on them they get smaller. The smaller the spaces are the finer particles they will stop from going through and back into the tank. It will, therefore, filter more efficiently when it is dirty than when it is clean. And the bacteria will grow better, too.

So, especially when the tank is new and you are trying to cultivate bacteria, leave the filter alone.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Ok. I'll go to my lfs at the end of the week and check it out.

 

[Opcn]

Gold fish a generaly dirty fish so dont feel bad about it

Opcn