How often should you really change your filter media??

Question

I have 2 tanks with filters on them a 29 gallon and 120 gallon tank. I know that stores tell you to make sure to change out the sponges about monthly and the carbon and all the other stuff they want to sell us to make them money. I obviously don't trust them completely since there goal is money money money. So my question is how often do you really have to change it? I have heard to just rince out sponges in tank water when doing water changes, but how often for that one and do they have to be replaced or just keep going until they have a little damage then replace? I know that pre-filter is permanent, but what about biomax rings and carbon. How often should they be rinces/washed/changed for best results.

I know I am pretty bad about working on the filters since I can never manage to keep the water off the ground. I have an ancient Fluval 203 and a brand new Fluval FX5 (A huge overkill in my opinion but we couldn't find a different filter that would fit on the rim of the tank.)

When I said I rince out sponges in tank water I was talking about water that I just syphoned out during water changes in a bucket. I meant to write down 'old tank water' in the original question. No I have never rinced out the sponge in the actual tank seems counterproductive :-)

Answer 1

Rinsing out the filter media in a bucket full of tank water is the correct way of doing it. You want to keep the beneficial bacteria alive and reproducing. I am sure if you syphon water from the top of the tank into the bucket, you won't have yucky debris in the bucket.
About changing the filter media I recommend that you change the filter media only if it is absolutely falling apart. I have sponge filter media in some of my large Eheim filters, and these sponges last for years - just remember the proper way of rinsing.

Question: Do you keep live plants in your tank? I am asking because you mentioned charcoal in the filter. I own 5 tanks (4 are planted, 1 is not). The planted tanks do not have charcoal in the filters as this would remove all the fertilizer that I add for the plants.
The unplanted tank has charcoal in it, as there are no plants removing excess nutrients from the water.
Question: You mentioned that you can never keep water off the ground. Do you refer to spilling onto the floor?
To help with speedy/no spill water changes, I suggest that you get yourself a hose meant for Motorhomes, RVs, Camping trailer, or a Python water hose from the pet store. All these hoses are made special for human water consumption or safe pet keeping. They are not impregnated with fungizide, which would kill all your fish immediately. Regular garden hoses often are impregnated to keep mold and things away.

Hope that my info has helped you a bit. Continue cleaning your filters and enjoy your hobby, I do.

Answer 2

I rinse all the media in my filters every other time I do a water change, which I do every week. I put them all in a bucket and fill it up with the water I am taking out, then I gently rub the loose debris off of the cartridges until it looks clean again. My bio media I just dunk a few times to get anything extra off but I don't like messing with that stuff too much. The only time I replace anything in my filters are when they start to fall apart and that is only the cartridges, some filters like my aquaclears I have never had to replace anything because the foam is much better then the cartridges, IMO. I don't use carbon at all in my tanks so I'm not really sure but I believe it does have to be replaced at least every few months as it can actually start putting stuff back into the water that it has taken out once it becomes over used. Since you have canister filters you may have to clean it more or less then I do, it also depends on how many fish are in your tanks and how often and how much you feed as your filter may get dirtier faster or not as fast.

Answer 3

Never change media in a canister, unless your using chemical(charcol) or filter floss. I run 2- 404's on my 120(with a penguin 350) and do maintenence every other month(rinse all media/change or rinse filter floss). I dont run chemical(charcol), instead I use 2 baskets for ceramic rings and 1 basket for filter floss(all biological and mechenical). My FX5 on a 125 is set up same way. This I do every 3 months(tank has penguin 330 and UGF also). My penguins I rinse cartriges weekly/biweekly and change when ratty. I do perform 50% h2o a week on all my 11 tanks. You might need adjust depending on stock and maintenance. Your gonna love the FX5. I like the 04 fluvals also as I own 3, but have never worked with the 03's. The quick disconnects always spill a little water, also poping the lid, so I lay a towel down and use 3- 5g(old tank water) buckets when doing canister maintenance.BTW the fluval 404's fit the rim of a 120, but its money well spent on the FX5. I would suggest atleast a powerhead for circulation of surface water. With just a canister you dont get alot of aeration, thats why I run HOB's also, plus I can easily add carbon to the HOB if needed as I dont run in any of my canisters.

Answer 4

I wouldn't replace a sponge unless it is crushed down and really deformed in shape. Just rinse that out in tank water when you do your water changes. Filter pads should be changed when they are dirty enough to start affecting the water flow through the filter. Carbon gets "used up" faster than any other filter media usually. It should be replaced fairly often and as a general rule at each water change. Bio rings and similar bio filtration media should only be washed out if it is clogged badly. Of course, if the bio filtration media is clogged then too much particulate matter is making it past you prefilter and fiber materials and you should probably be replacing that more often than you thought was needed. As with a sponge, you should use tank water to rinse any bio media and be sure to keep it wet during any filter cleaning to prevent loss of bacteria.

So yeah, you are right and they are right lol. Always good to question these things though. More than filter media though medicine is way, way, way over sold to the unskilled or newbie aquarium keeper. Medicine is rarely needed but is a huge mark up, big profit item for manufacturers and shops, so it is way over sold. Add to that the fact that you have employees that don't know any other way and hobbyist looking for a quick fix and it spells "throw pills at it". Serious problem in my book.

Answer 5

Fluval 203 Canister Filter

Answer 6

If you are using sponges, just wash them out. you can use regular tap water to ensure they are clean. Be sure to change the carbon if you are using it every month or two since carbon does get saturated. Once the carbon is saturated, it will no longer absorbe.

If you are using a "pad" filter, this will depend on how many fish you have and how dirty they are. You can wash them out in the sink with a tooth brush. If they aren't really dirty, rinse them and reuse them. However after about 2 months, I would replace them, then again depending on how dirty and overloaded they actually get.

I have graduated to the back back filters, no pads to buy no carbon, but it is all a matter of preference.

Answer 7

I am a firm believer in rinsing. Rinse the sponges and pads, do not replace, the existing bacteria in these is actually beneficial and needed to keep the tank in balance. Replace the charcoal only if you start to notice an oder. If you have other media in your filter such as ceramic balls and the like, just rinse as needed.

The only thing you should really need to replace is the floss and/or similar type pads that are used to filter our extremely fine matter as this will actually cause your pump to work harder as it plugs up.

Answer 8

I used to own fish but that's the reason why I don't anymore. They are hard to keep clean. You should clean the tank and refresh the water right after you clean it. Don't reuse the dirty water. I say do it about once a month.

Answer 9

you should change your filter media every time you clean out your tank. about once or twice every other week it depends how much fish you have in the tank.
good luck:)
Dustin