filter question

[fishwatcher]

My tank has been up for almost 3 months, and when the filter gets too dirty for the water to come through it, I've just been rinsing it (in old tank water). I'll do this 1 or 2 times, then I'll replace it. When I replace it I put the old filter in the tank for a week or so, then take it out and throw it away. Is this right? I just ask bc I hate the way it looks just sitting in the tank... so nasty looking.
Yeah, I know it's a newbie question... I should know better, right!?!

Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

You could run both filter all the time, if you don't want the filter just take the sponges out and add them to the new one if they fit, or squeeze the old sponges onto the new ones and run if for a few weeks.

 

[quintessential]

Why do you replace the filter?
if it is a sponge it should last years.
If you find you are having to clean it to often you could be overstocked or over feeding!!!!!

 

[fishwatcher]

It is the actual little white spongy thing I replace, not the whole filter... sorry! I never have known how long they're supposed to last, so I just rinse them each time I do a water change (2x a week) and then I've replaced it once. I just thought that's why they're failry cheap... that they're throw-aways. I guess I've just been wasting money!
And I had been overfeeding them... I realized that when I had a HUGE snail explosion. I'd read somewhere that overfeeding can cause that. I would feed them 2-3 times a day, as much as they'd eat in about 5 minutes. I realize now you should feed them once, and maybe even skip a day once every week or so. So, that should help it not get so dirty too.
I did throw one away about a week ago, and the old sponge has been in the tank. Can I throw it away yet, or leave it a little longer?
Thanks!!!

 

[WILDER]

Sponges are no good when you press them and they don't bounce back, i take dirty one's out and replace with a new one and squeeze the filter media onto it,then i rinse the old sponge it tap water and boil it a couple of times and put it away till i need it again.

 

[fishwatcher]

So can I take the old catridge-sponge thing out of my tank now or should I leave it a while longer? When the one that's in there gets dirty I can just rinse it right?

 

[WILDER]

your filter and sponges are different to ours so i don't no, i would wait for some american members for info, but don't change all the sponges at once or you won't have any beneifcal bacteria left.

 

[catyrpelius]

It sounds like you have a hang on back power filter right, it uses a white filter envelope that you can put carbon into right?? Well anyway when i had a hang on back filter i would just change out the cartradges and not worry botu it, and this worked fine fer me

 

[fishwatcher]

catyrpeluis, do you just throw away the cartridges each month, or do you rinse them and reuse them some?

 

[henry2703]

catyrpeluis, do you just throw away the cartridges each month, or do you rinse them and reuse them some?

I'm using a Hang on Back filter as well... the exact model is Ehiem Liberty 200.

there are 4 cartridges at the back... i make it a point to clean one each week... and after cleaning it twice, i will replace them.. again, one each week. so that the other 3 can still have sufficient bacterial in them to run the tank.

In any case, i really won't be too worry about changing the filter altogether in a 10 gallon tank. There are quite a bit of bacterial in the water, on the side of the tank and in the gravel as well... a temporary shortage will result to these bacterial multiply to coup with the workload. And the bacterial will adjust itself back once the sponge bacterial are back in action.

This is not jsut wnat i think.. i have done it before... changing all the cartridge in the tank all at once.

If youa re still afraid, i find Nutrafin Cycle pretty good... honestly... add a capful into the water after to change out the filter.... this should keep everything safe....

my 2 cents worth..... OH BTW i'm from Singapore....no US

 

[keane]

my 2 cents worth..... OH BTW i'm from Singapore....no US

yeah...i was curious as to why he wanted help from the US only.

steve

 

[fishwatcher]

your filter and sponges are different to ours so i don't no, i would wait for some american members for info, but don't change all the sponges at once or you won't have any beneifcal bacteria left.

This is why I added the "american" tag line....
Thanks for all the input! I'll just rinse them they way I have been, then replace it once it gets a little worn looking. I have been using the Cycle product too, so I'll just continue with that as well.
Thanks again!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

Just what brand of filter do you use?

In almost all cases, you can rinse and reuse the filter material until it literally falls apart. Of course the manufacturer and lfs people won't tell you that though. They make lots of money from selling replacements.