Aquaclear filter media question

[Chris Palma]

Hi again.

I have an Aquaclear 300 on my 75 gallon aquarium. It came with a sponge
and a bag of fine activated carbon. I've been running the filter with
these two media + a small amount of ceramic rings since I filled it in
late January. I just bought a new box of ceramic rings (Fluval Biomax)
that I want to add to the filter.

Here are my latest questions:

1) Should I pitch the carbon bag now, or leave it in as it may have a
good bacterial colony in it?

2) Should I clean the sponge in tank water ASAP, or wait until I have
another medium (the new rings) established first?

Any advice on how best to clean my filter media is appreciated.

--chris




| Chris Palma, | The preceding was a work of fiction, |
| University of Virginia Astronomy | any similarities to persons living or |
| | dead, places, or events is purely |
| www.astro.virginia.edu/~cp4v | coincidental... |

(NB: This email address is dead. If you want to email me directly, use
cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu)

[Dinky]

<inline>


"Chris Palma" > wrote in message
tro.Virginia.EDU...
> Hi again.

>
> 1) Should I pitch the carbon bag now, or leave it in as it may have a
> good bacterial colony in it?

Carbon *can* be useful (I don't use it) but after a time (perhaps six weeks
maximum) it becomes saturated, and begins to leech out some of the nasties
it's been absorbing. It needs to be changed if you want to continue using
it, or simply removed.

>
> 2) Should I clean the sponge in tank water ASAP, or wait until I have
> another medium (the new rings) established first?

I run at least 2 types of media in every filter for just this reason. Wait
several days after rinsing one before rinsing or removing the other.

>
> Any advice on how best to clean my filter media is appreciated.

After you do a water change, squish the media around in the old water until
it's clean. Don't use tap.
>

hth
billy

[Rick]

"Dinky" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> <inline>
>
>
> "Chris Palma" > wrote in message
> tro.Virginia.EDU...
> > Hi again.
>
> >
> > 1) Should I pitch the carbon bag now, or leave it in as it may have a
> > good bacterial colony in it?
>
> Carbon *can* be useful (I don't use it) but after a time (perhaps six
weeks
> maximum) it becomes saturated, and begins to leech out some of the nasties
> it's been absorbing. It needs to be changed if you want to continue using
> it, or simply removed.
>
> >
> > 2) Should I clean the sponge in tank water ASAP, or wait until I have
> > another medium (the new rings) established first?
>
> I run at least 2 types of media in every filter for just this reason. Wait
> several days after rinsing one before rinsing or removing the other.
>
> >
> > Any advice on how best to clean my filter media is appreciated.
>
> After you do a water change, squish the media around in the old water
until
> it's clean. Don't use tap.
> >
>
> hth
> billy
>
>

I run two sponges in all my Aqua Clears and although I used to run lots more
than I do now (changed to a linear piston pump) I still have a 500 going on
my 75 and 66 and a couple of 200's on other tanks to keep cycled in case I
need a cycled filter in a hurry. Double sponges give you a great area for
beneficial bacteria and it is easy to simply rinse them and rotate them at
water change time. Nothing wrong with what you are doing but I would find
using 2 sponges easier.

Rick

[JazzyB]

I use one sponge and a filter media bag filled with Fluval media. I found
that it works much better than two sponges. I would throw away the carbon
sponge as it only lasts a few weeks. As for your second question, I think I
would wait awhile until a bacterial colony established itself on the ceramic
rings before cleaning the sponge. They make filter media bags specifically
for the AC300. Pick one up and put your ceramic rings in it. I sit mine on
top of the sponge.

"Chris Palma" > wrote in message
tro.Virginia.EDU...
> Hi again.
>
> I have an Aquaclear 300 on my 75 gallon aquarium. It came with a sponge
> and a bag of fine activated carbon. I've been running the filter with
> these two media + a small amount of ceramic rings since I filled it in
> late January. I just bought a new box of ceramic rings (Fluval Biomax)
> that I want to add to the filter.
>
> Here are my latest questions:
>
> 1) Should I pitch the carbon bag now, or leave it in as it may have a
> good bacterial colony in it?
>
> 2) Should I clean the sponge in tank water ASAP, or wait until I have
> another medium (the new rings) established first?
>
> Any advice on how best to clean my filter media is appreciated.
>
> --chris
>
>
>
>
> | Chris Palma, | The preceding was a work of fiction,
|
> | University of Virginia Astronomy | any similarities to persons living
or |
> | | dead, places, or events is purely
|
> | www.astro.virginia.edu/~cp4v | coincidental...
|
>
> (NB: This email address is dead. If you want to email me directly, use
> cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu)

[MartinOsirus]

>Double sponges give you a great area for
>beneficial bacteria and it is easy to simply rinse them and rotate them at
>water change time. Nothing wrong with what you are doing but I would find
>using 2 sponges easier

I totally agree with this and it is what I do also.