First Time Filter Maintenance
 

hey guys-

i set up a 55 gallon tank nearly a month ago.

things are going well, but my question is when should i do some work on the filter? it's an aquaclear with three types of media in it, foam/carbon/biomax. when and which should i switch out first?

also when's it okay to do my first gravel siphon?

thanks

I use an AquaClear 20, and on the box of media, it says to change the carbon every 1 month, sponge every 2 months, and biomax every 3 months. Though I stagger mine a few weeks apart so that every 3 months I'm not changing everything at once. I change carbon once a month in the middle of the month, the sponge at the end of every 2 months, biomax at the beginning of every 3 months.