filter consern for cycling

manda · 10-16-2006, 11:19 AM

I am in the process of cycling a 10 gallon to hold three male bettas in a divided tank.

i have always used sponge filters because they dont make much current. these sponge filters i use also have carbon. they are made by pen plax. its just a little filter you hook into your aeration and it suction cups to the side.

my question is... you are supposed to change these every two to three weeks. how can i keep a tank cycled if i have to change the filter media? Can i leave a dirty cartledge in the tank. maybe just place it in the middle of the tank on the bottom. and put in my two new cartridges?

Zoe · 10-16-2006, 11:26 AM

Changing the filter won't "uncycle" your tank. A lot of the benificial bateria reside in the gravel. Although I do suggest dipping the new filter into some of the rinse-off from the old filter.

However, I would suggest you go with a HOB filter. You can turn down the intake rate so it doesn't make too much water current. It will work better and you can set it up so that it doesn't use one of those pre-made combination filter packs with sponge on one side and carbon on the other - you can use a sponge and a sac of carbon, and just replace the carbon on a monthly basis.

manda · 10-16-2006, 11:44 AM

thanks zoe.
i have been thinking about a HOB filter.

Zoe · 10-16-2006, 12:00 PM

It's definitely worth it, Manda

I used to have one of those little filters you're refering to - it's really a world of difference when you switch to HOB

**Damon** · 10-16-2006, 12:09 PM

I use those filters in my spawning tanks for bettas. YOu dont have to change the media. The carbon and white diamond charcoal is the perfect media for bacteria. A HOB will be more efficient for mechanical filtration but the corner filters work just fine for biological filtration.

judya · 10-16-2006, 02:40 PM

Take a fish bucket and put some tank water into it, then rinse and squeeze out the filter pad in that water, then put the pad back in the tank. Gets rid of the solid particles, and keeps the biological action going.

I use sponge filters on all my tanks and I use sponge filters only on several of my tanks.

manda · 10-16-2006, 02:52 PM

yes i do prefer them with my bettas.

jasno999 · 10-17-2006, 09:47 AM

Or you could add another devider and make is so the HOB filter disscharges into an area where no fish is.

The thing I question is how do you get the clean filterd water to go from one area to the other? Meaning you may have some holed in your dividers but how does that guarntees flow between each enclosure?

Zoe · 10-17-2006, 09:52 AM

Dividers are made of a poreous material, yup. Reminiscent of cheese-cloth (someone can be more accurate, I'm sure, about what material is used). So the water will flow as it normally would.

manda · 10-17-2006, 01:39 PM

i just made my dividers out of plastic mesh grid from the craft store, like always.

emc7 · 10-17-2006, 09:53 PM

I vote for rinse and reuse. Old carbon makes a good substrate for bacteria to grow on, new carbon isn't necessary unless you are trying to take out meds or pollutants from your water. The only thing you see if your carbon is too old is oily film on the water.

jasno999 · 10-18-2006, 05:33 AM

Like I said even a pours material is goign to degrade if not stop flow. There is no way aroudn that and we are nto sure what he is using for his divider.

Zoe · 10-18-2006, 08:03 AM

It will degrade but in a loooooong time.

manda · 10-18-2006, 11:26 AM

there is plently of flow.
its flowing away! :P

10-16-2006, 11:19 AM	#1
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	filter consern for cycling I am in the process of cycling a 10 gallon to hold three male bettas in a divided tank. i have always used sponge filters because they dont make much current. these sponge filters i use also have carbon. they are made by pen plax. its just a little filter you hook into your aeration and it suction cups to the side. my question is... you are supposed to change these every two to three weeks. how can i keep a tank cycled if i have to change the filter media? Can i leave a dirty cartledge in the tank. maybe just place it in the middle of the tank on the bottom. and put in my two new cartridges? __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

10-16-2006, 11:26 AM	#2
Zoe <·)))< Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 22 Posts: 1,030	Changing the filter won't "uncycle" your tank. A lot of the benificial bateria reside in the gravel. Although I do suggest dipping the new filter into some of the rinse-off from the old filter. However, I would suggest you go with a HOB filter. You can turn down the intake rate so it doesn't make too much water current. It will work better and you can set it up so that it doesn't use one of those pre-made combination filter packs with sponge on one side and carbon on the other - you can use a sponge and a sac of carbon, and just replace the carbon on a monthly basis. __________________ 90g pltd: angelfish [black, leopard, platinum, silver zebra & gold vt] · glass catfish · harlequin rasbora · neon & rummy nosed tetra · sterpai & spotted cory · bristlenose pleco 28g pltd: scarlet badis · oto cats · bristlenose 16g pltd: flame & honey gourami · cherry barbs 8g (soon to be 18g): 15 lbs LR · 10 lbs LS · YSP · zoas · shrooms · flame & hammer corals · brittle star · scarlet & electric blue hermits · firefish

10-16-2006, 11:44 AM	#3
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	thanks zoe. i have been thinking about a HOB filter. __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

10-16-2006, 12:00 PM	#4
Zoe <·)))< Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 22 Posts: 1,030	It's definitely worth it, Manda I used to have one of those little filters you're refering to - it's really a world of difference when you switch to HOB __________________ 90g pltd: angelfish [black, leopard, platinum, silver zebra & gold vt] · glass catfish · harlequin rasbora · neon & rummy nosed tetra · sterpai & spotted cory · bristlenose pleco 28g pltd: scarlet badis · oto cats · bristlenose 16g pltd: flame & honey gourami · cherry barbs 8g (soon to be 18g): 15 lbs LR · 10 lbs LS · YSP · zoas · shrooms · flame & hammer corals · brittle star · scarlet & electric blue hermits · firefish

10-16-2006, 12:09 PM	#5
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	I use those filters in my spawning tanks for bettas. YOu dont have to change the media. The carbon and white diamond charcoal is the perfect media for bacteria. A HOB will be more efficient for mechanical filtration but the corner filters work just fine for biological filtration. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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10-16-2006, 02:40 PM	#6
judya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Age: 55 Posts: 223	Take a fish bucket and put some tank water into it, then rinse and squeeze out the filter pad in that water, then put the pad back in the tank. Gets rid of the solid particles, and keeps the biological action going. I use sponge filters on all my tanks and I use sponge filters only on several of my tanks. Last edited by judya; 10-16-2006 at 03:11 PM.

10-16-2006, 02:52 PM	#7
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	yes i do prefer them with my bettas. __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

10-17-2006, 09:47 AM	#8
jasno999 Aquarium Friend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA - PA Age: 30 Posts: 81	Or you could add another devider and make is so the HOB filter disscharges into an area where no fish is. The thing I question is how do you get the clean filterd water to go from one area to the other? Meaning you may have some holed in your dividers but how does that guarntees flow between each enclosure?

10-17-2006, 09:52 AM	#9
Zoe <·)))< Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 22 Posts: 1,030	Dividers are made of a poreous material, yup. Reminiscent of cheese-cloth (someone can be more accurate, I'm sure, about what material is used). So the water will flow as it normally would. __________________ 90g pltd: angelfish [black, leopard, platinum, silver zebra & gold vt] · glass catfish · harlequin rasbora · neon & rummy nosed tetra · sterpai & spotted cory · bristlenose pleco 28g pltd: scarlet badis · oto cats · bristlenose 16g pltd: flame & honey gourami · cherry barbs 8g (soon to be 18g): 15 lbs LR · 10 lbs LS · YSP · zoas · shrooms · flame & hammer corals · brittle star · scarlet & electric blue hermits · firefish

10-17-2006, 01:39 PM	#10
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	i just made my dividers out of plastic mesh grid from the craft store, like always. __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

10-17-2006, 09:53 PM	#11
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 3,239	I vote for rinse and reuse. Old carbon makes a good substrate for bacteria to grow on, new carbon isn't necessary unless you are trying to take out meds or pollutants from your water. The only thing you see if your carbon is too old is oily film on the water.

10-18-2006, 05:33 AM	#12
jasno999 Aquarium Friend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA - PA Age: 30 Posts: 81	Like I said even a pours material is goign to degrade if not stop flow. There is no way aroudn that and we are nto sure what he is using for his divider.

10-18-2006, 08:03 AM	#13
Zoe <·)))< Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 22 Posts: 1,030	It will degrade but in a loooooong time. __________________ 90g pltd: angelfish [black, leopard, platinum, silver zebra & gold vt] · glass catfish · harlequin rasbora · neon & rummy nosed tetra · sterpai & spotted cory · bristlenose pleco 28g pltd: scarlet badis · oto cats · bristlenose 16g pltd: flame & honey gourami · cherry barbs 8g (soon to be 18g): 15 lbs LR · 10 lbs LS · YSP · zoas · shrooms · flame & hammer corals · brittle star · scarlet & electric blue hermits · firefish

10-18-2006, 11:26 AM	#14
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	there is plently of flow. its flowing away! :P __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

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