I have an aqua 1 pump and filter, but the pet store I used has closed and I cant get the same sponges for the filter, can I use any other type of material for the filter and if so what can you suggest.
2006-12-26 02:52:23 · 9 answers · asked by jlb 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
I do clean the filter sponge in the water I take out what I mean is the filter sponge actually needs replacing with a new one but my stockest has closed down what can I use instead from a local pet store?
2006-12-26 03:25:17 · update #1
do what luna said ,and also if you have used a carbon filter before,
keep it ,as well as go for something like foam or sponge ,nitrifying bacteria need a carbon source as well as a oxygen source so have good airation,and if you can get it,get something like cycle or ask your local pet store for a bottle of dormant bacteria,it is made up of nitrosomonas bacteria and nitrite oxidizing bacteria, make sure its for your type of aquarium(salt or fresh) it will help a lot , make sure if you add the cycle add it near the new filter sponge it will colonise in it, if this doesent help maybe ask the local petstore what they suggest, hope this helps! my email is camerondebney01@yahoo.com.au added: get a carbon insert as well as a sponge one, they usually sell a piece that you can just cut out with a pair of scissors , also ask the store what they suggest they might hace something that does the job better, hope it helps!!!
2006-12-26 03:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by cammo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't ever have to change the sponge on a sponge filter.
When I use sponge filters I simply rinse them out in water that I have siphoned out of the tank. Alternatively you can squeeze them out in the tank before doing a water change, but beware this will make your tank cloudy.
You don't want to change the sponge, because this is where the good bacteria that break down the fish wastes live.
2006-12-26 03:11:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the filter needs replaced then yes purchase one...probably ebay if there isn't a source near by. Soak it in some of the tank water before replacing it so that it builds up some bacteria (Good bacteria) from the tank. Only ever rinse the filter sponge under cold running water as the last answerer mentioned otherwise it will kill off the good organisms in the filter that help to recycle the water.
2006-12-26 03:02:50 · answer #3 · answered by minitheminx65 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's best not to change the whole sponge filter, as it can cause your tank to recycle.
Instead, each time you do a water change, rinse the filter off in the water you have removed from the fish tank. This will remove the build up of gunk, but will not kill your beneficial bacteria.
2006-12-26 02:54:28 · answer #4 · answered by lunar_flame 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
BIGgourami wins. He's one of the smartest people in the fish section. Just listen to him, he'll never do ya wrong. Even new, never before used sponges do have chemicals in them, and they would be way worse as a media for bacteria. If you can't make yourself spend an extra $5 on your fish, you shouldn't have bought them. They're not decorations. Learn what you're talking about, or just don't answer. Wrong information is not helpful.
2016-05-23 07:50:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy the sponges on line , when changing the sponge only change one half at a time leave for about 2 weeks to build up bacteria which is really important for your fish`s health if the sponge is in one piece just leave it in tank to build up bacteria that way
2006-12-26 21:52:03 · answer #6 · answered by Black Orchid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the filter media is the same stuff. Get an ordinary Fluval one or two and cut to the right size.
2006-12-26 04:46:44 · answer #7 · answered by big_fat_goth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lunar is correct. reuse what you have, just rinse it cleaner using some of the water already in the tank. otherwise your tank will get REALLY cloudy as it establishes a nitrogen cycle again...
2006-12-26 03:00:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
get one off ebay. There are lots of sellers offering them on there.
2006-12-26 04:06:43 · answer #9 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋