Juwel Compact H - Changing Blue Sponges

[cheeky chappie]

this 'might' be a stupid question but i'm asking it anyway

in the booklet and online instructions for the juwel compact h filtration system (1 x coarse blue sponge filter, 2 x fine blue sponge filter) it advises as follows:

- coarse blue, clean or replace every 6-12 weeks
- fine blue, clean or replace every 3-6 months

the advice continues with:

'important - cleaning or replacing the blue filter sponges will affect the bacteria cultures. we recommend therefore, that only one of the sponges at a time is cleaned or replaced, never at the same time.'

now by this (alternate changes) do they mean alternate between coarse and fine sponge changes or are they simply referring to the 2 x fine blue sponges i.e. replace one of these at a time but never both? i've been typing up my filter maintenance schedule and at present i've got it as follows:

- change coarse blue
- change fine blue (upper sponge)
- change coarse blue
- change fine blue (lower sponge)

and so on, is this correct, or can i change both fine blue sponges at same time?

 

[ian]

you shouldn't really need to change the sponges, just a good clean every few weeks should suffice. That is unless the sponge is falling bits.

 

[cheeky chappie]

you shouldn't really need to change the sponges, just a good clean every few weeks should suffice. That is unless the sponge is falling bits.

i wondered about that (i.e. it saying you can either clean or replace) i've always just replaced as oppose to clean but might change my approach. even with cleaning though (i'm maybe over analysing this) should i be alternating between coarse and fine sponges or is it okay to wash out/replace both fine sponges at same time, as long as i alternate that change with the coarse blue sponge?

 

[ian]

for every sponge you though away, you're throwing away good bacteria from your filter. This in turn could put you into a mini cycle. Wash the sponges in old tank water and you'll be fine. I never changed any media in my Juwel filter for a year and everything was fine.

 

[doresy]

Hi.....often manufacturers (and Juwel are not alone) will encourage customers to replace media regularly which is obviously a marketing ploy.

As previous poster suggests, media should only be replaced if it's falling apart. I have some sponges that I started out with and are now 6 years old. Just a gentle squeeze out in old tank water will do the job.

If you ever use carbon then this needs chucking after a few days as it cannot be cleaned and will start releasing back into the water once full.

 

[cheeky chappie]

Hi.....often manufacturers (and Juwel are not alone) will encourage customers to replace media regularly which is obviously a marketing ploy.

As previous poster suggests, media should only be replaced if it's falling apart. I have some sponges that I started out with and are now 6 years old. Just a gentle squeeze out in old tank water will do the job.

If you ever use carbon then this needs chucking after a few days as it cannot be cleaned and will start releasing back into the water once full.

thanks all ... i'm always for saving £££ so thanks for advice. yes i do use the carbon sponge as well which i think they say to change every 4-6 weeks. is it also okay to hold onto the nitrate removal sponge or should it be replaced as per instructions?

 

[doresy]

Hi.....often manufacturers (and Juwel are not alone) will encourage customers to replace media regularly which is obviously a marketing ploy.

As previous poster suggests, media should only be replaced if it's falling apart. I have some sponges that I started out with and are now 6 years old. Just a gentle squeeze out in old tank water will do the job.

If you ever use carbon then this needs chucking after a few days as it cannot be cleaned and will start releasing back into the water once full.

thanks all ... i'm always for saving £££ so thanks for advice. yes i do use the carbon sponge as well which i think they say to change every 4-6 weeks. is it also okay to hold onto the nitrate removal sponge or should it be replaced as per instructions?

Hi again. The nitrite sponges are pregnated and do need replacing but if you just clean them they will act like any other media. The carbon sponges I wouldn't use unless you are cycling WITH fish. They will help with ammonia, water staining or removing medications once used.

Basic advice is to just use coarse and fine sponge and/or ceramic tubes or granules. A gentle squeeze in old tank water during water change. If you are cycling (without fish) you need to build up bacteria using ammonia as food. This will also enable the bacteria for processing nitrite to form naturally. If you use carbon and nitrite removers this will hamper the cycle process. If your tank is already cycled and matured then there is no need for nitrite removers or carbon unless you are over stocked/under filtered.

 

[Essjay]

The green sponge is supposed to remove nitrAte not nitrIte, but most people who have one reckon it doesn't work. However it is a very good home for the filter bacteria, so leave it there and treat it the same as a blue sponge.

 

[cheeky chappie]

thanks again all

 

[dutto73]

hi chappy.. i got the juwel filter too, i got rid of my carbon sponge and got a tub of cirax, i am using my green sponge untill i buy another blue coarse sponge..am new to this so if i need correcting, anyone plz correct me, the order of sponges is......bot'm-to-top.....fine blue.... gap...cirax.....green.....coarse blue...p'pad x2...

 

[Essjay]

dutto, the new tanks that come with cirax as standard have the media in the order - fine blue sponge at the bottom, then cirax in the bottom basket; then in the top basket the coarse blue sponge goes in the bottom with the green sponge on top of that, then the carbon sponge and last the white pad. Download the instruction manual here http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/aktuelle_modelle303.htm

If you are using cirax instead of the carbon sponge, just put it between the fine and blue coarse sponges whichever basket they end up in, then the green sponge on top of the blue and the white pad on top of that.

You don't need to change the green sponge for a blue one. Leave it in till it falls apart in several years' time. And don't change the blue ones till they fall apart either - they only tell you do do that to make them money. The white pad will need changing often as it clogs quickly and goes shapeless after a couple of washes get a roll of filter wool and cut it to shape, it's much cheaper than buying the Juwel pads

 

[dutto73]

thanks essjay reading my post i sounded like a right novice.lol., but then again am no expert!..i have the roll of wool(£6)i change p'pad every wk and little squeeze of sponges every 2