question about filer changes.

[jczinger]

I have read some of thee posts here concerning filter changes and am confused on one topic.

I have a whisper 5-15 power filter for my ten gal, and a aqua teh 20-40 for my twenty gal. if the charcol is only good for about a month, but I don't need to change (only clean in tank water) the filters until the tanks have fully cycled. How do I change the charcol when it is inside the cartriges of these two types of filter?

[jeffs99dime]

i don't use charcoal unless i'm removing meds from the water. charcoal is only good for 2 weeks max.

[jczinger]

with the filters that I have, the charcol is in them from the get go. Should I just continue to use the one that I start out with until it is just completely to the point it needs replacing? if so, then how do I go about transfering the bacteria to the new filter?

[NorthernBoy]

I am not really familiar with you filter design but see in your filter mechinism if you have both a biobag and a charcoal filter. You should be able to rinse the biobag gently in tank water and change the charcoal about once every 4-6 weeks. If the charcoal is truely "super" or "ultra" activated you may be able to go longer. I disagree that charcoal is useless after 2 weeks. But charcoal does release the filtered contaminants back into the tank if you don't change it soon enough. I use chemi-pure on the top layer of my eheim and I used it in my old filter too. I never changed it before 3-4 months and is continued to be active for other people much much longer. Long live chemi-pure!

[Lady Hobbs]

When they talk about removing the charcoal, they are referring to the entire filter.

Do nothing with your filter media until your tank has fully cycled. You can sloash it around in fish water (that has been removed and in a bucket) to get the excess stuff off it but if you replace it you will lose your bacteria that's formed there. Also, do not rinse in tape water or the chlorine in the tap water will destroy the bacteria.

If I were you, I'd try to get some bio spira and if you can't find that (LPS store only refrigeratored) get some Stress Zyme at Walmart and add to your water exactly as directed. And no more often than directed. Pour it in the back of your tanks right on the filter media. It's added bacteria to help speed your cycle along.

Also...........no cleaning of the tank or gravel. Leave it alone until cycling is finished.

What's bad about cycling with fish is you must have water test kits to test your water daily for ammonia and nitrites. Well, have to have this anyway. Not the strips, either, but Master Test Kits which are liquids. With living fish, you will get ammonia levels that have to watched carefully or your fish will die. And then after that nitrite levels that can also kill your fish. It's a huge pain and it may well be worth your time to take a couple weeks and cycle without fish.

[CJ1]

i don't use charcoal unless i'm removing meds from the water. charcoal is only good for 2 weeks max.

Most people do need to use charcoal because of what's in most tap water. Also it will last 4-6 weeks.

[Lady Hobbs]

The charcoal filters are supposed to remove medication from the tank. But if it's used constantly, how do you know that charcoal is still effective at removing the med?

Is there some reason sponge or other filter materials can't be used for daily use and charcoal used for medication removal?

[kimmers318]

I think what jczinger is trying to figure out here is how to handle the type of "all in one" filter media/cartridges that are coming with a lot of tanks these days. Very simply, there is a pre-made filter media that has carbon sealed inside and is usually also pre-shaped/formed with plastic sides, bottom, back, what have you and it just slips right into the filter unit. Thus, there is no way to remove the carbon short of slicing open the filter pad and dumping it out. That is an option. I have several of these types of filters jc and what I find works is to simply do the rinse in used tank water so as not to hurt my bacteria when I do water changes. Every 4-6 weeks I replace the filter media with a new one....but DO NOT do it the same day you do water changes. Your filter media is a great source of bacteria, but there is also plenty in your tank clinging to your substrate and decor. Since you do upset the tank some when you do water changes, you don't want to further upset things by removing the media at the same time. Wait til halfway between water changes to replace media. Also, then, when you do your regular water change you probably won't even need to rinse filter media and it won't be disturbed. Another option is if you can fit 2 media cartridges into the filter add the new one to start culturing bacteria about a week before needing to remove old used cartridge. The ease of being able to just change out a cartridge has it's benefits, but the worry of destroying bacterial cultures is a drawback. I have had good luck with the needed changes as I outlined and don't feel that I have caused my tanks any undue harm.

[jczinger]

Kimmers,
Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was looking for. However, the filters that I have came with the regular filter to catch all of the debris and what is called a Bio Filter. This stays in the filter housing and is not removed. Could this be a good source of bacteria for the new charcol/filter media?

[kimmers318]

The bio wheel is just what you think it is...a good source for constantly living bacteria, and yes, they stay with the filter. You don't ever want to remove the biowheel unless absolutely necessary. I would still be cautious about replacing filter media though between water changes, especially on smaller tanks since they are much more sensitive to swings in water parameters by the simple fact that they have less water volume for dilution.

[Fishguy2727]

The 'lifespan' of carbon is dependant on the quality level and how much stuff is in the tank to be removed. There is no set amount of time that it is effective for. I no longer use carbon normally in my aquariums. So far there are no adverse affects and I contribute this to my high water change schedule of about 75% weekly in all my tanks. So from what I can tell carbon is a shortcut for water quality, and short cuts should never be the goal. There is even evidence that carbon removes trace elements vital for proper health, which obviously can lead to illnesses.

[jeffs99dime]

The use of carbon is not a short cut. Because there are different trace chemicals in tap water, carbon is needed in most areas. You just happen to have water conditions that don't require you to use carbon. You saying that carbo use is a short cut it totally irresponsible. Actually I thinks it's just plain stupid.

actually, reptileguy is entitled to his own opinion. just as you are entitled to yours and me for mine. i don't think it's stupid. he's probably one of the most proficient aquarists on this board. that's gotta be worth something.--jeff

[Lady Hobbs]

I deleted it since we don't talk to one another like that here. Maybe in other forums but not in this one.

[Fishguy2727]

If your tap water is that bad you shouldn't put it in your tank and then let the pollutants be removed slowly as the water makes its way to the filter eventually, meanwhile the fish are being exposed to it. If your tap water is that bad and you still want to use it, you should be pre-treating it to remove those pollutants before you expose your fish to it. That would mean holding it in a tank or tub while running it through a filter with carbon in it if you do not want to use RO/DI.

The only time I can think of that I talked to anyone whose tap water was killing their fish was someone with well water whose septic system was contaminating the well, other than that no one. That does not mean it never happens, but that most likely if your tap is that bad it is extremely rare and you will know about it.

[Lady Hobbs]

As mentioned before, I get bags of the spun fiber and just cram it in the filter. I see no tiny particles anymore like I did with charcoal filters and my water looks about as good as if I'd used a polisher. I still have charcoal filters on hand, however, for removing medication.

I don't think there's a way to know for sure just how long charcoal does remain effective. The companies that sell them ask that they be replaced every 2-4 weeks. Is it because they are trying to sell more or is it because the charcoal is non-effective after that long? I don't think any of us can know this for sure.

I've talked with people who have used the same filters for almost a year. To me, this is just putting more pollutants back into the aquarium. But that's just my opinion. Thing is here, we all have our opinions and we can talk to 3000 people and everyone will do things differently. There is no set ideas on any topic and we just have to do what we think is right for us and for our fish and roll with it.

[Lady Hobbs]

However, the filters that I have came with the regular filter to catch all of the debris and what is called a Bio Filter. This stays in the filter housing and is not removed. Could this be a good source of bacteria for the new charcoal/filter media?

I have a couple filters with those. When they got so grungie I could no longer stand it, I cut out a piece of furnace filter that comes in sheets and cut a new one to replace it with. They say not to replace it tho. It is made of plastic so how much bacteria can plastic hold? Not much, I'd think. Your regular filter media is what holds all the bio-load.

Walmart has boxes of different sized filters now that you add the charcoal to yourself. Charcoal is right in the box as well. They can also be cut down if too high for the filter housing. I will probably go this route the next time as every one of my filters take a different type of filter media it seems. Some have to be ordered online so for me, I will get a box of these "fill your own" and see how it goes. The come s,m and large.

[CJ1]

If your tap water is that bad you shouldn't put it in your tank and then let the pollutants be removed slowly as the water makes its way to the filter eventually, meanwhile the fish are being exposed to it. If your tap water is that bad and you still want to use it, you should be pre-treating it to remove those pollutants before you expose your fish to it. That would mean holding it in a tank or tub while running it through a filter with carbon in it if you do not want to use RO/DI.

The only time I can think of that I talked to anyone whose tap water was killing their fish was someone with well water whose septic system was contaminating the well, other than that no one. That does not mean it never happens, but that most likely if your tap is that bad it is extremely rare and you will know about it.

Running the water through carbon. Gee, amazing, that's why it's in the filter. There happens to be three types of filtering needed, and chemical filtering just happens to be one of them. Now, isn't that what the heck the carbon is for? I'm pleased as punch that you do not need to use carbon, but it still happens to be a needed component in most tank's filtering systems. Then again, i really don't know shit about keeping fish tanks after doing this for most of my life, and breeding countless types of fish.

[Lady Hobbs]

CJ......your forum ediquette leaves much to be desired. I have always gotten good information from you both here and in emails but getting so excited and angry because someone does something different than you is uncalled for. If it wasn't for different opinions there would be no point in having forums at all.

reptileguy choses to not use charcoal filters and you do. Can't we let it go at that and not make this a huge deal, call another persons ideas "stupid" and cuss.

This discussion is over and this thread is now closed. I do hope in the future you will consider posting in a more friendly manner.