Filter Media help!

bethemockingjay said:

idk. IM VERY CONFUSED!

Okay so I want a betta fish. I bought a starter kit from Petsmart with filter, heater, thermometer, and the 10 gallon tank. I have done a lot of reading in the past 48 hours about fishless cycling. So I understand about the nitrogen cycle and "new tank syndrome".

Did you read this one? I have always done fish-in cyces and not killed any Betta. As long as you have a test kit, Seachem Prime and (in my case) don't let Ammonia and Nitrites get over .25ppm your Betta will be fine.

http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=555434

Just a few questions I can't seem to find the answer. Filter media is not the cartridge of the filter right? or is it? because i keep seeing people talk about the sponge of the cartridge as the filter media? They say you can re-use cartridges and replace after many months so I would assume not otherwise people would be going through the cycle again every few months to a year.

I think the bag is considered the filter media? Someone else can correct me. I haven't used that type of filter in years but I think that's right. You can replace (or not) the charcoal but not the bag as that's where the nitrifying bacteria will grow. There may be something besides charcoal you can use in the bag; maybe filter floss. http://www.truaqua.com/aquatop-cotton-filter-pad-cfp-xy-1821.html

Additionally...I have assumed it is not part of it but I see no answers on replacing filter media. I get the filter media has all the beneficial bacteria and should only be replaced when its falling apart after years. So my question is...when its falling apart do I have to do this cycle again? or do i add it to like a new media bag with more filter media (...if that makes any sense at all) :/

You can put in a second pad in the bag and after six weeks (I'm very cautious; some say three weeks) replace the old pad and bag. The new one will have your nitrifying bacteria.

Last question...Is activated carbon additional filter media? I know some people have filter media bags with carbon in them and say its filter media however it cant be all the filter media because you replace that monthly...so is this just extra filter media for when medications are going through your tank?

Scatter brain sorry...

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FinnDublynn said:

The media is what does the filtering. If you have a filter with a biobag, the biobag is the media. It has the sponge-type media that IS the bag, plus the carbon media inside the bag.

Types of media include but are not limited to:
Carbon
Sponge
Biological-media (Fluval BIOMAX, Seachem Matrix, etc)
Polymer (Seachem Purigen)
and other foams/felts/materials that are used in the filtration system, some being highly specialized to only remove Phosphorus, etc

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FinnDublynn said:

Ah. Also, in order to keep your cycle, when its time to replace, you would run your filter with both the new and the old media to build up the BB on the new one for 2-6 weeks before discarding the old one.

I'm not the most proficient in information on this, so I would wait for someone a little more qualified to give you a more specific answer

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RussellTheShihTzu said:

The sponge is the filter media. I just looked at photos.

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RussellTheShihTzu said:

Yes and yes. But run a new cartridge for 3-6 weeks so it will have nitrifying bacteria when you throw out the old one.

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FinnDublynn said:

The media is what does the filtering. If you have a filter with a biobag, the biobag is the media. It has the sponge-type media that IS the bag, plus the carbon media inside the bag.

Types of media include but are not limited to:
Carbon
Sponge
Biological-media (Fluval BIOMAX, Seachem Matrix, etc)
Polymer (Seachem Purigen)
and other foams/felts/materials that are used in the filtration system, some being highly specialized to only remove Phosphorus, etc

Click to expand...

Nismo83 said:

I think carbon can be left out.

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