Aquariums: How often do you really need to replace these? I’ve read to actually NEVER replace the Biomax. The carbon’s box says to replace every 2-4 weeks?
How often do you really need to replace these? I’ve read to actually NEVER replace the Biomax. The carbon’s box says to replace every 2-4 weeks?
Never. The filter medium (what you’re holding) holds a huge percentage of the beneficial bacteria colonies, and replacing the medium means getting rid of those colonies – that’s how you get ammonia spikes and dead fish.
The exception is the charcoal filter, which should be removed ( not replaced ) when administering medication. Otherwise, leave those guys in the tank 24/7, only removing to rinse gently in a bowl of dechlorinated water if they get too gunky to work correctly.
PotOPrawns on
Only needed if you’re pulling meds from the water. This is one of those fads that’s there to keep you spending.
You’ll be fine replacing that cartridge with a regular ceramic media/sponge/polishing pad and never changing it again.
When they need cleaning take some tank water in a bucket and rinse them out in the tank water then slot them back into place and go.
Dry_System9339 on
The carbon is only good for a few weeks before it is full, but it is not something that you need or want in your filter all the time. It can be used to remove tannins or medication from the water but also removes nutrients that plants need. Apparently it can have some negative effects on the fish too.
I don’t know what the lifespan of the biomax is but I assume it is many year.
Forward_Recover_1135 on
The bio balls don’t need replaced. Their literal only purpose is to provide more surface area where bacteria can grow. As long as they continue to physically exist they serve that purpose fine.
Carbon does get exhausted, and while the whole ‘it’ll start leeching harmful things that it filtered out back into the water’ when it is exhausted is not a real thing under home aquarium conditions, it will simply stop providing any benefit after a couple weeks to a couple months depending on how much stuff it’s pulling from your water.
But the thing about carbon is that you don’t really need it unless you have a specific need, which is also usually time boxed. Like if you put medicine in the tank, you want to filter it out after it’s done its work. Or you accidentally got some kind of chemical like glass cleaner in the water or whatever idk. Any kind of situation where either you know or you suspect some kind of chemical is in the water and you want to remove it. But under normal conditions with clean water carbon just isn’t necessary. It’s not like it removes any of the harmful nitrogen compounds which are far and away the biggest source of ‘contamination’ that needs filtered out.
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Never. The filter medium (what you’re holding) holds a huge percentage of the beneficial bacteria colonies, and replacing the medium means getting rid of those colonies – that’s how you get ammonia spikes and dead fish.
The exception is the charcoal filter, which should be removed ( not replaced ) when administering medication. Otherwise, leave those guys in the tank 24/7, only removing to rinse gently in a bowl of dechlorinated water if they get too gunky to work correctly.
Only needed if you’re pulling meds from the water. This is one of those fads that’s there to keep you spending.
You’ll be fine replacing that cartridge with a regular ceramic media/sponge/polishing pad and never changing it again.
When they need cleaning take some tank water in a bucket and rinse them out in the tank water then slot them back into place and go.
The carbon is only good for a few weeks before it is full, but it is not something that you need or want in your filter all the time. It can be used to remove tannins or medication from the water but also removes nutrients that plants need. Apparently it can have some negative effects on the fish too.
I don’t know what the lifespan of the biomax is but I assume it is many year.
The bio balls don’t need replaced. Their literal only purpose is to provide more surface area where bacteria can grow. As long as they continue to physically exist they serve that purpose fine.
Carbon does get exhausted, and while the whole ‘it’ll start leeching harmful things that it filtered out back into the water’ when it is exhausted is not a real thing under home aquarium conditions, it will simply stop providing any benefit after a couple weeks to a couple months depending on how much stuff it’s pulling from your water.
But the thing about carbon is that you don’t really need it unless you have a specific need, which is also usually time boxed. Like if you put medicine in the tank, you want to filter it out after it’s done its work. Or you accidentally got some kind of chemical like glass cleaner in the water or whatever idk. Any kind of situation where either you know or you suspect some kind of chemical is in the water and you want to remove it. But under normal conditions with clean water carbon just isn’t necessary. It’s not like it removes any of the harmful nitrogen compounds which are far and away the biggest source of ‘contamination’ that needs filtered out.