Hi, from what I understand when you get a new tank it needs to be cycled or rather the filter needs to be cycled (Correct me if I'm wrong), so I was wondering if it takes approx 30 days (Thanks Koko for the great article) should we change the filter media as often as the filter company would like us to? If so is there a specific way we should do it rather than out with the old in with the new?

Hi and welcome to Koko's.
While you're going through the cycling process,I personally would not change the filters.The filter is the main spot which gathers the good bacteria in order to actually lead the tank into a full cycle.
There are also some good Bio-Bugs on gravel/plants and such,but a very small amount,not anything major enough to do any thing.
I am going to move this into the correct area,so you can get the most feedback.

Thanks Dev, that's what I was geting at...if you've cycled your filter and it's full of all the good bacteria, then surely if you change your filter media you would have to cycle again therefore the tank would never be properly cycled. If that makes sense! So i was wondering how to change the filter properly. Or do you not need to change the filter media?

Now this is were a 2 filter tank is good.

when you need to change a filter pad out you change it on one filter then leave the other one alone.....then change the other one the next time so that the tank only dips alittle at a time

Or if you have gravel in the tank it wouldnt hurt much at all of the tank is fully cycled

Thanks Koko, I have a semi related question....When undergoing a Fishless Cycle, I have a 15 gallon tank so how much amonia should I add, in ml?

Rather than changes the media every two or four or six weeks or whatever the manufacturer says, rinse the media in tank water (but not in the tank). sobasically remove some tank water in a bucket or something, rinse the media in that, throw that water away, replace media.

I read a tip by another member to transfer the good bacteria from old media to new, I'll have a look for it.

ahh ok sounds easy enough. Does there come a time when you must change the filter media?

Perhaps I'm reading the question wrong, or am doing mine incorrectly, but my filters have both filter cartridges and bio-media. The cartridges are blue with the charcoal inside and the bio-media looks kind of like a flat, square loofah. (I also have the bio-wheels, but was told the more bio-media you have, the better. Hence the doubling up with both types of bio-media.)

The loofah things are where the good bacteria colonize, correct? I never clean those. Once a month I'll give them a gentle swish in a bucket of tank water, just to remove a little of the built up unnecessary goop, but that's it.

My filter cartridges, on the other hand, I clean those thoroughly every 2 weeks. I keep two sets, so the replacement set is dry when I put them in. Then I high pressure wash the dirty ones and leave them out to dry for the next change.

Am I doing it wrong?

Lisa

Hi Lisa, i've read so much now. But from what I have understood...what you are saying is correct. I recently bought a new tank well second hand, and i've just today received the new filter media for the filter and it's exactly as you have explained. It has 4 parts to it. 1 of those is a bio media, the instructions say that these blue filters should only be cleaned (as you described in a bucket of tank water) once a year. It's the little filter on the top of mine should be changed regularly and the filter below should be cleaned every 3 months.
The tank I had before was only small and only had one peice of filter media so it was confusing, now i have 4 it's much easier to understand.
So I think you are doing it right, but I am new to all this so can someone correct me if i'm wrong?

I think it might depend on what is in the filter cartridges. before I assumed you were just talking about the foam type media.

Yea I was, didn't realise until today that my new filter uses so many different types of media. Makes it much easier than previously when I had only the one.

What kind of filter is it??

If its a penguin or Emporors, then I would say rince them off in tank water, then you can gentle tap them on a sink to get the gunk out then re use them until you can get it clean any more, then replace them....

it is a filter with a sponge pad then all you need to do is rince them in tank water until you have clear water then place back in the filter.......

The filter is a Juwel compact http://www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/filter_full.htm

That kind of filter all you want to do is rince the blue pad in tank water when you notice that the filter isnt flowing as fast as it should be. that one never needs to be replaced

Great, thanks everyone for answering my question. It all makes much more sense now!!!