first filter media change

Hey all, its been six weeks and I think its time that I change out my media.
My question is this: should I rub off some of the bacteria from the old
media onto the new one before replacing, or should there be enough
beneficial bacteria already existing within the tank that will collonize on
the new media. Im using a aqua tech 10-20 power filter in a 29g tank. The
tank has been up and running for six weeks now and somehow is still reading
nitrate levels at being 20-30. Im assuming that this is due to the extended
time that Ive let the original media stay in there, to me this seems to be
the only possible reason that the levels are so high, ammonia is low-close
to non-existant and there are five large plants+12 fish that have all been
in there for the last six weeks..no new additions and no losses.Thanks for
any imput.-Brian




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"ruprecte" wrote in message
...
Hey all, its been six weeks and I think its time that I
change out my media.
My question is this: should I rub off some of the bacteria
from the old
media onto the new one before replacing, or should there
be enough
beneficial bacteria already existing within the tank that
will collonize on
the new media. Im using a aqua tech 10-20 power filter in
a 29g tank. The
tank has been up and running for six weeks now and somehow
is still reading
nitrate levels at being 20-30. Im assuming that this is
due to the extended
time that Ive let the original media stay in there, to me
this seems to be
the only possible reason that the levels are so high,
ammonia is low-close
to non-existant and there are five large plants+12 fish
that have all been
in there for the last six weeks..no new additions and no
losses.Thanks for
any imput.-Brian

I rinse my media in water extracted from the
tank (partial water change) and put the same
media back into the filter. That gets rid of most
of the gunk but doesn't kill off the good bacteria,
which you would if you rinsed it under the tap.

Gail

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
"ruprecte" wrote in message
...
Hey all, its been six weeks and I think its time that I
change out my media.
My question is this: should I rub off some of the bacteria
from the old
media onto the new one before replacing, or should there
be enough
beneficial bacteria already existing within the tank that
will collonize on
the new media. Im using a aqua tech 10-20 power filter in
a 29g tank. The
tank has been up and running for six weeks now and somehow
is still reading
nitrate levels at being 20-30. Im assuming that this is
due to the extended
time that Ive let the original media stay in there, to me
this seems to be
the only possible reason that the levels are so high,
ammonia is low-close
to non-existant and there are five large plants+12 fish
that have all been
in there for the last six weeks..no new additions and no
losses.Thanks for
any imput.-Brian

I rinse my media in water extracted from the
tank (partial water change) and put the same
media back into the filter. That gets rid of most
of the gunk but doesn't kill off the good bacteria,
which you would if you rinsed it under the tap.

Gail

So you use the same charcol filter over and over again? My concern is that
the activated charcol is no longer effective which would prompt me to
replacing the media (which the instruction manual suggests) every four weeks
or so, this of coarse does not seem like the ideal path to follow so thats
why I posted, just wanted to make sure that we're on the same wavelentgh as
I am still fairly new to the hobby.-Brian






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I have both cleaned filter material in tap water and old tank water. The
real trick is to not make the filter material "dishwasher" clean. You are
really looking to increase the water flow through the filter material not
clean the filters... If you understand the difference.

I have Aqua Clear backwater filters for the most part with bio media and a
sponge filter. During a typical clean I will squeeze and rinse the sponge
until it no longer "bleeds" dirty water. The bio media I just give a good
rinse under a tap to remove the larger amounts of dirt.

If you want an extra level of safety for your filters... find a sponge
filter that will fit over the intake of the filter. Then either clean the
"slip on" filter or the filter media inside the filter but not both.

Just my two cents,


Fishboy

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
"ruprecte" wrote in message
...
Hey all, its been six weeks and I think its time that I
change out my media.
My question is this: should I rub off some of the bacteria
from the old
media onto the new one before replacing, or should there
be enough
beneficial bacteria already existing within the tank that
will collonize on
the new media. Im using a aqua tech 10-20 power filter in
a 29g tank. The
tank has been up and running for six weeks now and somehow
is still reading
nitrate levels at being 20-30. Im assuming that this is
due to the extended
time that Ive let the original media stay in there, to me
this seems to be
the only possible reason that the levels are so high,
ammonia is low-close
to non-existant and there are five large plants+12 fish
that have all been
in there for the last six weeks..no new additions and no
losses.Thanks for
any imput.-Brian

I rinse my media in water extracted from the
tank (partial water change) and put the same
media back into the filter. That gets rid of most
of the gunk but doesn't kill off the good bacteria,
which you would if you rinsed it under the tap.

Gail

Thx for the insight WD, I dealt with the interspersed nicely but thanks for
the buffer you put forward. Just reading back through this posting Im not so
sure how the idea of "rinsing in tap water" became an issue or even a
question but thanks again for the information. Anyway I think my question
has been answered: If water is not flowing back into the tank
uniformaly-change it, if it is doing fine dont cuz the pushers are just
selling their products. Well I think that Ill just wait for the uniform
water release fails and then I will rub off some of the old filter off onto
the new filter (in water change water of coarse) and then place it into my
powerhead. -TFTI-Brian
"WD" wrote in message
newsmJOa.11902$N7.2034@sccrnsc03...
Interspersed. Deal with it.


"ruprecte" wrote in message
...
So my question now is why are replacement filter media for sale at all?

Largely, at least IMO, it's because people will buy anything if you tell
them they need to. (pet rocks, chia pets, Democratic party promises) Most
Bio-Media doesn't last forever, and some types don't last long at all,
such
as plain polyester filter floss, so It *does* need to be replaced when it
stops letting water through due to stuff you can't rinse off, or lets too
much through because it's in tatters. Allow me to share my opinion that if
you're looking to preserve the bio-colony, do not rinse in tap water. The
chlorine exposure, though short, will kill off some of your bacteria.



At what point do you consider replacing the media cartridge? How do you
determine if the "active" charcol is no longer active..besides of coarse

Carbon (charcoal) is not nearly as useful as the media engines would have
you believe. They won't make money unless you keep going back to buy that
12
dollar 3-pack of Penguin filter carts every few weeks. It's main use is in
removing *some* chemicals from the water, and tannins leeched from
bogwood.
I haven't used carbon in most of my tanks except on occasion for quite
some
time.
As far as when you need to replace it, carbon can only absord a finite
amount of substances, then it stops working. After that, it will actually
start operating in reverse, leeching the substances it absorbed back into
the water. IME, carbon lasts a minimum of 3 weeks, and maximum of six
weeks
depending on usage.

HTH

billy






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"ruprecte" wrote in message
...

"Gail Futoran" wrote in
message

.
net...

I rinse my media in water extracted from the
tank (partial water change) and put the same
media back into the filter. That gets rid of most
of the gunk but doesn't kill off the good bacteria,
which you would if you rinsed it under the tap.

Gail

So you use the same charcol filter over and over again? My
concern is that
the activated charcol is no longer effective which would
prompt me to
replacing the media (which the instruction manual
suggests) every four weeks
or so, this of coarse does not seem like the ideal path to
follow so thats
why I posted, just wanted to make sure that we're on the
same wavelentgh as
I am still fairly new to the hobby.-Brian

Sorry. I didn't see any mention of charcoal
and stupidly assumed you were just using
sponge or similar media. My bad.

No, I never reuse carbon filter. That's why I
don't ever use it alone (and I only use it following
treatment for disease) because I don't want to
lose the good bacteria on the filter media.

Gail

slit the top of the filter bag and dump the carbon..... Most filters can be
used that way and refilled if need be.

Bob
"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
"ruprecte" wrote in message
...

"Gail Futoran" wrote in
message

.
net...

I rinse my media in water extracted from the
tank (partial water change) and put the same
media back into the filter. That gets rid of most
of the gunk but doesn't kill off the good bacteria,
which you would if you rinsed it under the tap.

Gail

So you use the same charcol filter over and over again? My
concern is that
the activated charcol is no longer effective which would
prompt me to
replacing the media (which the instruction manual
suggests) every four weeks
or so, this of coarse does not seem like the ideal path to
follow so thats
why I posted, just wanted to make sure that we're on the
same wavelentgh as
I am still fairly new to the hobby.-Brian

Sorry. I didn't see any mention of charcoal
and stupidly assumed you were just using
sponge or similar media. My bad.

No, I never reuse carbon filter. That's why I
don't ever use it alone (and I only use it following
treatment for disease) because I don't want to
lose the good bacteria on the filter media.

Gail

Most of us put new filters in by doubling up the filters for a couple of
weeks. Then tossing the old one. Rubbing gunk off the old filer won't bee
really efficient.

Bob
"ruprecte" wrote in message
...
Thx for the insight WD, I dealt with the interspersed nicely but thanks
for
the buffer you put forward. Just reading back through this posting Im not
so
sure how the idea of "rinsing in tap water" became an issue or even a
question but thanks again for the information. Anyway I think my question
has been answered: If water is not flowing back into the tank
uniformaly-change it, if it is doing fine dont cuz the pushers are just
selling their products. Well I think that Ill just wait for the uniform
water release fails and then I will rub off some of the old filter off
onto
the new filter (in water change water of coarse) and then place it into my
powerhead. -TFTI-Brian