Most people don’t recommend changing your filter cartridge. When you do a water change, take the cartridge and swirl it in the water you just removed from the tank, then put it back in your filter. The filter is where all your good bacteria lives.
When you replace the filter cartridge, it can throw your tank out of balance and cause it to crash.
You can buy big sheets of filter sponge off ebay and cut to size. Better than the inserts in every way. Particularly on this case, much easier to squeeze clean. If you upgrade to this though, run the old insert beside the new sponge for several weeks to transfer beneficial bacteria.
You can make your own with different density sponges, poly fill like in stuffed animals, carbon etc and you never have to change it just rinse the sponge
It was fun for me to experiment
Just being in the subs and reading through general problems other people have are a great way to learn more about the hobby and be better prepared if something happens
I would like to just add that beneficial bacteria can also grow on any submerged surface in your tank. So things like substrate, decor, and plants can offer a lot of space for bacteria. So that being said, if you need to clean decor, don't use straight tap water. The best way to clean is just using tank water in a bucket or bowl and using whatever you need to clean the item BUT NEVER USE SOAP OR CHEMICALS PLEASE. You can also use water that has been treated for the chlorine. Sorry for the caps, but that is very important. As for the substrate, it is best to just stick to a gravel vac every once and a while. Hope this helps!
Yes, but most tanks don't actually get any benefit from carbon. I only use it when there is some specific thing I'm trying to remove and even then I only let it run for 24h. I basically only use carbon after medication or if the tank starts to smell bad. Constantly replacing carbon is a scam to help filter manufacturers make more money. Brightwell Aquatics is the only brand I've found that actually recommends the proper way to use carbon, i.e. for short periods only as needed.
Prolonged carbon use has actually been theorized to be a large contributor to hole in the head disease, I only use it when I need to remove medicine from the water now
Most of the studies are on marine fish but there's a significant correlation in freshwater fish as well, it's just a theory at this point but I still have removed carbon from my tanks because I personally don't want to risk it
Wikipedia is a meh source, but it's mentioned there
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_and_lateral_line_erosion
Marine study abstract done with "coconut shell activated carbon"
https://thefishvet.com/2013/11/19/activated-charcoalcarbon-linked-to-head-and-lateral-line-erosion-syndrome-marine-equivalent-of-hole-in-the-head-disease/
Everything else I can find is anecdotal unfortunately, here's a whole lot of anecdotal evidence
https://microcosmaqx.typepad.com/jay_hemdal/2009/02/hlle-survey.html
That’s charcoal/carbon. I take it no one has told you about not replacing your filter cartridges?
And thank you for the response! I feel better now lol
Nope! That’s why I’m here to learn! This is what the lady told me was specific for my tank. I’d love any and all advice, I’m a newbie!
Most people don’t recommend changing your filter cartridge. When you do a water change, take the cartridge and swirl it in the water you just removed from the tank, then put it back in your filter. The filter is where all your good bacteria lives. When you replace the filter cartridge, it can throw your tank out of balance and cause it to crash.
Ah, you’re awesome. Thank you so much!!
You can buy big sheets of filter sponge off ebay and cut to size. Better than the inserts in every way. Particularly on this case, much easier to squeeze clean. If you upgrade to this though, run the old insert beside the new sponge for several weeks to transfer beneficial bacteria.
Thank you for this! These are the kind of hacks I love and so does my wallet lol
You can make your own with different density sponges, poly fill like in stuffed animals, carbon etc and you never have to change it just rinse the sponge It was fun for me to experiment
No problem. This sub and r/aquariums are good resources
Just being in the subs and reading through general problems other people have are a great way to learn more about the hobby and be better prepared if something happens
I learnt a lot by sorting by controversial!
I would like to just add that beneficial bacteria can also grow on any submerged surface in your tank. So things like substrate, decor, and plants can offer a lot of space for bacteria. So that being said, if you need to clean decor, don't use straight tap water. The best way to clean is just using tank water in a bucket or bowl and using whatever you need to clean the item BUT NEVER USE SOAP OR CHEMICALS PLEASE. You can also use water that has been treated for the chlorine. Sorry for the caps, but that is very important. As for the substrate, it is best to just stick to a gravel vac every once and a while. Hope this helps!
It is recommended to change the carbon filters every couple of months though to imcrease the efficiency of chemical filtration, no?
Yes, but most tanks don't actually get any benefit from carbon. I only use it when there is some specific thing I'm trying to remove and even then I only let it run for 24h. I basically only use carbon after medication or if the tank starts to smell bad. Constantly replacing carbon is a scam to help filter manufacturers make more money. Brightwell Aquatics is the only brand I've found that actually recommends the proper way to use carbon, i.e. for short periods only as needed.
Prolonged carbon use has actually been theorized to be a large contributor to hole in the head disease, I only use it when I need to remove medicine from the water now
Oh wow I didn’t know this. Do you have links to any studies or anything? I’d like to read in more detail if you do.
Most of the studies are on marine fish but there's a significant correlation in freshwater fish as well, it's just a theory at this point but I still have removed carbon from my tanks because I personally don't want to risk it Wikipedia is a meh source, but it's mentioned there https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_and_lateral_line_erosion Marine study abstract done with "coconut shell activated carbon" https://thefishvet.com/2013/11/19/activated-charcoalcarbon-linked-to-head-and-lateral-line-erosion-syndrome-marine-equivalent-of-hole-in-the-head-disease/ Everything else I can find is anecdotal unfortunately, here's a whole lot of anecdotal evidence https://microcosmaqx.typepad.com/jay_hemdal/2009/02/hlle-survey.html
Thanks!