Hey Folks
Just looking for some input on what and when to change. I have an AQ 30 (150), and according to the directions you're supposed to change the carbon monthly, the foam/sponge every second month and the white stuff (forgot the name) every third month. Now I've seen mention here to change none, or less frequently. Also, if you follow the directions, at month six you are replacing all, so there goes all the bacteria you want. What do you folks recomend.
I change the carbon monthly, rinse the foam/sponge every month with fish water, and never change the bio media just rinse it out in fish water. However, if you have a planted tank or messy fish you might have to do this more frequently.
Those directions are from the manufacturer that wants to make money. I only rinse my sponges when they get really yucky (and in tank water that was siphoned out), and don't even use carbon. The filter floss gets changed about every two weeks or so. I have two filters on most of my tanks, and alternate between them for media changes. So far, everything is going well.
It reminds me of the instructions for changing your car's wipers: every three months, or something like that? HA! Mine get changed maybe once a year. :)
Once a year :o I wait till mine dont work anymore.
Thanks for the advice folks. I really appreciate it.
I agree with Vizerdrix, why use carbon at all? If you have medication, or dye or discolouration(ie. from driftwood etc.) that needs to be removed then carbons great, but if not, then carbon is actually a poor component of the filter. If it isn't recharged regularily it becomes toxic, and the natural bio-filtration is impaired. I have 23 tanks on my central system and I haven't used carbon in years. Never had a problem as long as the biological filter is doing its job.
This is how I operate my ACs:
- no carbon
- medium/corse sponge on the bottom and top of the filter chamber loose ceramic ball in the middle (the sponge on top keeps them from flying away)
- another sponge fit into to intake chamber, to maximize bio filtration
- cleaning: never - unless I notice that the low reduces to the point that the power head is not stong enough to suck all the air out of the intake tube
All my AC run on (heavily?) planted tanks with I would say low fish load, almost no maintenance necessary, unless it has lots of woods, which tends to create lots of dirt too.
I read somewhere awhile back that sponges eventually are unable to support a bacterial culture. I know it would take quite a long time, years likely, so I replace my coarse sponge every couple of years. Floss is changed when it is clogged, bio-max is just rinsed in fish water, and I do not waste money on carbon.
Perhaps someone with more knowledge can shed some light on the sponge longevity thing.
Since a sponge is for mechanical filtration - I cut down the size of the sponge lengthwise in half so its half as thick and save it in case I need it. Leaves more room for ceramic media. I don't use carbon unless I'm taking out medication. More room for ceramic media.
I have messy messy fish and they have a high bioload as a result. So I rinse my filters in discarded tank water weekly and rinse the biomedia weekly. (Fancy Goldfish). I haven't needed to replace them due to deterioration. I have stolen some of the sponge and media to seed other tanks and QT tanks.