Question about Filter

[Klane]

Why don't aquarium kits tell you anything about filters other than how
to put them together. I have a Top Fin 20 that came with my 20G long
aquarium. It's about 2 months old now and everything seems to be going
well. All of my parameters are fine. I have 6 Zebra Danios, 2 Dwarf
Gouramis (thinking about getting a third) and 2 Otos.

My question is how often to I "wash" it in old aquarium water? When do
I change bags and/or charcoal? Also, how much charcoal do I put in?

I've ordered a couple of books but they haven't come yet, and I don't
even know if they will cover this topic.

Thanks,
Klane

[Billy]

"Klane" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Why don't aquarium kits tell you anything about filters other than
> how
> to put them together. I have a Top Fin 20 that came with my 20G
> long
> aquarium. It's about 2 months old now and everything seems to be
> going
> well. All of my parameters are fine. I have 6 Zebra Danios, 2 Dwarf
> Gouramis (thinking about getting a third) and 2 Otos.
>
> My question is how often to I "wash" it in old aquarium water? When
> do
> I change bags and/or charcoal? Also, how much charcoal do I put in?
>


I'll share with you my method on filter maintenance.

1: I treat activated carbon like medicine. I never use it unless
there is a clear and present need for it. I haven't used it regularly
in 15 years. It's over-rated, mostly because the manufacturers like
you to buy stuff. Can't blame them, really. Use it to remove
discolorations, medications, and odors from the water. FWIW,
unpleasant odors in the tank are usually indications of a problem
that needs fixed, not masked with carbon!
2: If water is flowing through the filter, leave the bloody thing
alone, it's working! When water flow is reduced below the level
you're happy with, gently rinse the filter media with your fingers in
a bucket of tank water. Clean all other components well in warm water
using a brush. Above all, preserve the bacterial colonies living on
that media, by avoiding letting it contact untreated water or drying
out.
3: When the filter media is deteriorated, and must be replaced,
preserve as much of the bacteria as possible by replacing only half
of the media at a time. Some filters, for example, have 2 cartridges,
replace only one, waiting a week or so before replacing the other
one. Establish a routine or schedule, if it helps you.

Anyway, that's my take on filter maintenance, I hope you can glean
something useful from it.

billy

[Derek W. Benson]

On 21 Aug 2005 15:26:40 -0700, "Klane" > wrote:

>Why don't aquarium kits tell you anything about filters other than how
>to put them together. I have a Top Fin 20 that came with my 20G long
>aquarium. It's about 2 months old now and everything seems to be going
>well. All of my parameters are fine. I have 6 Zebra Danios, 2 Dwarf
>Gouramis (thinking about getting a third) and 2 Otos.
>
>My question is how often to I "wash" it in old aquarium water? When do
>I change bags and/or charcoal? Also, how much charcoal do I put in?
>
>I've ordered a couple of books but they haven't come yet, and I don't
>even know if they will cover this topic.
>
>Thanks,
>Klane

One of my books has a description, with photos, concerning the filter
media, and when it should be cleaned. This is generally the white
filter floss that one puts in a cannister or similar filter that I'm
talking about. After a while the floss starts filling up with brown
gunk, decomposing waste from the fish, pieces of plants, etc. However
much brown gunk is in there, the filter is perfectly fine, as long as
the brown stuff is a dull brown color. If the filter has been going
too long, you will begin to see a glossy or shiny look to the brown
stuff, like some glassy stuff covering over the brown gunk. If you see
this, you need to clean the filter. Or it should have been cleaned a
couple days before reaching this point.

It's difficult to say how long your activated carbon is good. Some
people say 3-4 weeks, some say 5-6 weeks. This depends on how many
fish the carbon is absorbing stuff from, and how much other stuff is
in the tank which might be decomposing to other stuff which the carbon
is absorbing (like dead plant leaves maybe). I never use activated
carbon in my tanks, and would actually advise that you get rid of it.

-Derek

[Robert Flory]

Amen, don't wash it till it plugs up ... Replace it when it falls apart.
bob
"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Klane" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Why don't aquarium kits tell you anything about filters other than how
>> to put them together. I have a Top Fin 20 that came with my 20G long
>> aquarium. It's about 2 months old now and everything seems to be going
>> well. All of my parameters are fine. I have 6 Zebra Danios, 2 Dwarf
>> Gouramis (thinking about getting a third) and 2 Otos.
>>
>> My question is how often to I "wash" it in old aquarium water? When do
>> I change bags and/or charcoal? Also, how much charcoal do I put in?
>>
>
>
> I'll share with you my method on filter maintenance.
>
> 1: I treat activated carbon like medicine. I never use it unless there is
> a clear and present need for it. I haven't used it regularly in 15 years.
> It's over-rated, mostly because the manufacturers like you to buy stuff.
> Can't blame them, really. Use it to remove discolorations, medications,
> and odors from the water. FWIW, unpleasant odors in the tank are usually
> indications of a problem that needs fixed, not masked with carbon!
> 2: If water is flowing through the filter, leave the bloody thing alone,
> it's working! When water flow is reduced below the level you're happy
> with, gently rinse the filter media with your fingers in a bucket of tank
> water. Clean all other components well in warm water using a brush. Above
> all, preserve the bacterial colonies living on that media, by avoiding
> letting it contact untreated water or drying out.
> 3: When the filter media is deteriorated, and must be replaced, preserve
> as much of the bacteria as possible by replacing only half of the media at
> a time. Some filters, for example, have 2 cartridges, replace only one,
> waiting a week or so before replacing the other one. Establish a routine
> or schedule, if it helps you.
>
> Anyway, that's my take on filter maintenance, I hope you can glean
> something useful from it.
>
> billy
>