Filter Maintenance

[keiths]

What exactly needs to be done as far as filter maintenance goes? I have the Eheim Classic Canister 2213-37.

How often would I have to replace the media? Is there any media that I really don't want to replace and I should just rinse out every once in a while? How do I know when I should change the media?


Also another question along the same lines. If I was going to start another tank, what would I want to do in order to jump start the cycle. I know theres something you can do with the media but I wasn't sure what I could do in order to keep my old tank running fine while setting up a new tank at the same time.

 

[dgwebster]

what kind of filter media are you running right now. usually a mix of two of these:

fine sponge
corse sponge
activated carbon
ceramic
zeolite (sp?)
sometimes a floss
Ultiphos Fe
sometimes peat
sometimes plain ole gravel
bioballs

 

[keiths]

I'm trying to remember from when I set it up. I know there was 1 black pad which I'm guessing is a coarse pad. Then I think it also had 2 fine pads. It also had something in it which I want to say look like this: http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...8&N=2004+113808

 

[Bloo]

Change the media when it falls apart or starts looking realy manky.

I rinse mine every 2-3 months in some siphoned tap water and that's it really.

This is more or less what the setup should look like :

 

[Squid]

Bloo... you have a picture for everything... do you have them on standby now, categorised for the different questions.

Keep it up though, it really helps... a picture speaks a thousand wotsits and all that.

Squid

 

[Bloo]

thanks - I just know how to google them really quickly

But and do think pictures help a lot and help to avoid misunderstandings

 

[andywg]

I would say to rinse the foam pads as often as once a week under the tap. These are for mechanical filtration and anything caught in them will aid in nitrate production and eventually reduce the flow of the filter.

The same goes for anything else in there for mechanical filtration. Anything for biological I would leave as long as possible and then just rinse in tank water (preferably after it's removed from the tank).

 

[dgwebster]

rinse EVERYTHING in tank water ONLY. Even in the coarse pads for mechanical filtration, bacteria settle on this for a home. tap water will kill it. Many people run their tanks with only the sponge type stuff.

the other stuff you have will be either zeolite or cermaic. Ceramic can be cleaned in tank water too and replaced when it starts to really break down (fo some people, up to 2 or 3 years). personally if zeolite, remove it, its not really something that is needed in this day in age in my opinion.

 

[Bloo]

the other stuff you have will be either zeolite or cermaic.

Eheim cannister filters do not come with zeolite.

But you are right - zeolite should not used as a standard media.

 

[Qays]

I have had a sponge which i have used for about 2 yrs without it falling apart! But the manuals say replace every 4 months!

Is that coz they want money?

 

[Bloo]

Yep

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah i rinse the filter media in tank water once every couple of weeks or so, very rarely change the sponges, always wondered how often your meant to do them.

 

[keiths]

Yea that picture is pretty much what it looks like. I'm pretty sure theres a black pad in there as well though. I'm going to take it apart tonight and see whats going on. Probably rinse the pads in tank water as well. Thanks for the help on that.

Can some one also help me out with the second part of my question about starting another tank?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah sorry, missed that bit, to jump start the cycle you can put the new filter in your existing mature tank..... not sure exactly how long for, think i remember someone saying 3/4 days..... then move in to the new tank, add water and declorinator and wait for it to get up to temparature, test teh water, if everythings OK, put your fish in straight off. If you leave it running too long in a tank with no fish in the bacteria will start to die off so put them in as soon as you can

 

[andywg]

rinse EVERYTHING in tank water ONLY. Even in the coarse pads for mechanical filtration, bacteria settle on this for a home. tap water will kill it. Many people run their tanks with only the sponge type stuff.

the other stuff you have will be either zeolite or cermaic. Ceramic can be cleaned in tank water too and replaced when it starts to really break down (fo some people, up to 2 or 3 years). personally if zeolite, remove it, its not really something that is needed in this day in age in my opinion.

That first sentance is just plain wrong.

The mechanical is there for mechanical only. Bacteria will colonise it, but they will far more colonise the bio-media and rinsing the mechanical will not cause any problems. You are more likely to have problems with detritus breaking down in the mechanical media where you can't use a powerful spray to clean it out and leading to nitrate problems. After the first couple of rinses all the necessary bacteria will be where they should be: on the bio media. Your sentance would suggest to peoplethey should never change carbon, nor take it out, as the bacteria colonise that too.

I know for a fact I would never get the filter floss on my wet dry filters clean enough just rinsing it in tank water. I can only just get all the particles caught by it out with the showerhead on full mains pressure (to the point it actually bucks against your hand).

I was responding to the post about the eheim which has both mechanical and biological media, not small power filters with just a sponge (one of ther easons why I hate using those filters is the fact you can't use the tap to clear them out properly).