First Aquarium

catdawg426

well how many filter pads are in the filter? Mine has a bio filter where most of the bacteria establishes which I never change and then a carbon insert which I replace monthly.

LasColinasCichlids

I am pretty sure when you say box filter you are just talking about the carbon insert pads. Which it is safe to change those as the bacteria lives on the sponge-like thing between the carbon insert and the outflow and other places in a box filter.

I have the Marineland Penguin Biowheel filter, and I change my filter insert every 3 weeks since it is basically just a carbon insert, however, I never change the biowheel as that is full of good stuff.

On my Tetra 10i Whisper filter in my smaller tank, I change the carbon bag monthly, but I dont bother the black sponge-like thing.

So yes, it is safe to change them. If you are concerned, you can "rinse it" in the tank, however that will also give you a lot of gunk and debris floating in your tank...and I generally wouldnt do that unless I was switching filters that couldnt hold the old filters cartridge in the new filter.

Hope this wasnt too confusing, it is late and I am fighting sinuses and a bad back.

How are the fish doing?

Calmwaters

I would not change the filter at all unless it is basically falling apart you have a lot of beneficial bacteria that are on there and if you change it it could cause you tank to have a mini-cycle. Instead when you do the water change swish it around in the dirty water that has been removed from the tank and is still in your bucket. That will get rid of any debris in the filter but will not kill the bacteria.

kirkland14

Cool! Thanks for the info. I wasn't really sure what I should do about it. Theres alot of different material online to try and sort through. I knew about the bacteria in there that's why I thought by cutting some out it would help it grow back easier. About how long does one of these filters last?

Thanks

kirkland14

The fish are good. I have had a little loss but that's to be expected. The Cory's are awesome. Their like living vacuum cleaners. The bottom of my tank is spotless. Their so active I can't get enough of watching them.

LasColinasCichlids

Removing the filter that hold the carbon wont ruin the bacteria at all, and they should be replaced about every month or so...heavier stocked tanks more often, or for the use of the fresh active carbon to remove meds that you had to treat a tank with if it ever calls for that.

Yeah, cories are awesome. I had just added some albinos last month that were itty bitty, and they have GROWN! The largest is an inch and a half now!!! I cant wait for them to get bigger!!!

If you think they are like vacs, you should get some otocinclus, those dudes are heavy duty cleaners!!! If you stuck in 3 oto, in combination with the cory, your tank would look sparkling clean, lol.

kirkland14

I was actually going to Oto's but my local store was sold out(they have wholesale day on Sundays) so I went with the Cories. I'm going to go back next Saturday and see if they have any in stock again.

Calmwaters

If his filter is the all in one deal with the carbon made into the white filter part than he should not change it because the bacteria will be on the white filter part. If the carbon is by itself in a separate bag than yes he can change the carbon part only, how ever if he has real plants the carbon is bad for the plants so he should not change it.
As for the corys I agree they are awesome especially when kept in groups of the same kind. My personal favorite are the albinos because they seem to go all over the tank just not on the bottom.

LasColinasCichlids

@Kirkland...yeah, my Petsmart and aquarium stores have been having outages of otos too!! Its crazy!!! And I just know when I head up to Petsmart tomorrow for otos they will be sold out bc they have that Spring Sale with otos for $1!!!

@Calmwaters...Kirkland has the factory stock box filter, which generally has the black filter sponge thing for the bacteria, and the carbon insert filter cartridge. Either top fin or tetra, forget which.
As far as live plants go, I have no idea one from another...I have a few live plants in each of my tanks, I run active carbon in my filters at all times, and I do not use any aquarium plant food, or do anything special for the plants and they have thrived, grown, and are pretty awesome. I had no idea about the carbon being bad for live plants, as plants arent my area. lol.
The habrosus cory I have also go all over the tank, you just can barely see them bc they are so small. But yeah, albinos are everywhere!

kirkland14

It is the all in one filter with the carbon inside(Aqueon 30 I believe?) and there are real plants as well. The Corys don't seem to care where they are. Top, bottom, middle. Their all over the place.