Filter Sponges

[Galaxy]

I was wondering how often you need to change the internal filter in a 180 litre tank. Why are there different grades of sponge and also different colours. (Black, Blue and white) Surely if you change a filter to a new one you lose all the bacteria and have to cycle the tank again??

 

[tstenback]

Normally with the sponges you just give it a couple of squeezes in the old tank water when it gets clogged and then put it back in filter. Dont know what type of filter you have so if this cant be done let us know and someone will have a solution for your type of filter.

 

[Galaxy]

Are you saying that you never replace the filter?? I thought it need to be replaced every 6 months or so?

I have a Juwel filter in the corner of the tank.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

Are you saying that you never replace the filter?? I thought it need to be replaced every 6 months or so?

I have a Juwel filter in the corner of the tank.

Check inside, maybe the filter has 2 sponges? Replace one sponge every six months, alternately. Perhaps.
hehe.

I would imagine that would see the bacteria live on.

 

[tstenback]

The white pads are your poly pads or prefilter pads these pick up alot of the stuff coming into the filter so that it doesnt clog up the filter sponge where the bacteria lives. The blue pad is your filter sponge where the acteria is housed. There are 2 types a course and a fine one. both do basically the same thing. The black one is a carbon sponge that is used to remove impurities from the water. These usaully are only good for 2-4 weeks.
To answer your other question, you do not have to replace the sponges unless they become hard and brittle or are otherwise damaged. Maintenance would only be a squeeze in old tank water to remove some of the waste missed by the poly pad. the poly pad can be replaced or given a squeeze in some old tank water if it becomes clogged. The manufacturer would love for you to buy new stuff all the time but to be realistic this is not at all necessary unles the part is no longer functioning properly such as a poly pad that is clogging up every day. HTH

 

[Galaxy]

Thanks for the info. I hope I have my sponges in the right order.

On the bottom I have two coarse blue filters and then a 1 inch gap then two finer blue filter sponges then a carbon sponge and then the poly pad at the top. From the design of the pump I believe that the water is drawn into it through the bottom although I might be wrong. Can anyone advise, I'm sure most of the Juwel setups must be the same.

 

[tstenback]

From that set up i would say that the water is brought down through the filter media as it gets a rough filter from the poly pad then the impurities are removed by the carbon and finally the filter sponges will provide a home for the bacteria. Not sure where the intake is but the flow has to be down through the media. HTH

 

[Galaxy]

The unit is in the corner of the tank. On one side the intake slots are near the bottom and the outlet at the top on the other side there are more inlet slots at the top. Confusing, I guess I'll take it apart tonight and have a look.

 

[tstenback]

according to the juwel site the media is in there the right way.

 

[jimbooo]

sorry to disagree but i think the blue ones are the wrong way around. i have a Juwel rekord 60 tank (smaller than yours)

filters are in this order (top to bottom)

white
black
course blue
fine blue

the fine filter is where most of the bacteria live hence at the end of the line.

don't buy the Juwel white filter refill's my local shop sells you 4 with a black included for about £4.

they also sell a HUGE (at least 1ft x2ft) bag of white filter media for £3. just buy that and cut to size. you'll never run out if you buy it this way, change it as often as you like and it's dirt cheap.....

you do need to replace the black one every 4 weeks though. if you leave it in too long the toxins leak back into the water causing big problems.

if you are washing the blue ones only wash one at a time. ie do H2O change, dip and gently squeeze the bottom blue filter into old tank water and replace in its original position.

by washing the bottom one when the pump is turned back on bacteria from the top filter will re polinate (wrong word and can't spell but you get the idea) the bottom one.

sorry to ramble on, hope this helps

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi galaxy

As tstenback says - just rinse them in old tank water during a wc.

Juwel filters - at the top working down...

Filter wool - white
carbon - black , if you use it - bin after about 4 weeks
coarse sponge - blue
fine sponge - blue

...I think you have the last 2 sponges the wrong way round - though think it would make very little difference - leave till next wc

hth



www

 

[Galaxy]

Thanks alot. I have checked out the site and everything seems to be in order. Why didn't I think of that in the first place .

 

[jumpman]

From that set up i would say that the water is brought down through the filter media

wrong way, it goes up!

 

[SirMinion]

I have a Juwel Rio 180 too.

Here's the filter instrutions. You have it almost correct.

from the bottom it should be:

fine blue
coarse blue (or green if you are using the nitrate sponge)
black
white on top.