Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: Ally2 on December 01, 2016, 09:19:58 PM

Title: Changing the ceramic media cartridge
Post by: Ally2 on December 01, 2016, 09:19:58 PM
Hi
I've had my tank for about 6 months now . I want to change the ceramic bead cartridge to a new one . I've kept the old one in the tank , and added the new one to build up some good bacteria before removing the old one . What I'd like to know is how long should I expect the new one to build up a good amount , I was thinking about three weeks ?
As that is how long it originally took to cycle my 22 litre tank .

Ally
Title: Re: Changing the ceramic media cartridge
Post by: Matt on December 01, 2016, 09:39:44 PM
What is leading to you wanting to change the cartridge Ally?
Title: Re: Changing the ceramic media cartridge
Post by: Ally2 on December 01, 2016, 10:25:12 PM
Hi
It's looking a bit tatty/green at one end . The Aqua one company also recommends doing this much earlier than 6 monthly so that thought I better change it .
Ally
Title: Re: Changing the ceramic media cartridge
Post by: Matt on December 01, 2016, 10:39:55 PM
The company is just trying to sell more media to be honest with you. 

You are absolutely correct in that changing the media without building up beneficial bacteria on it would cause you to have to essentially re-cycle the tank. Problem is there is little motivation for the bacteria to spread onto the new media at present as your old media is taking care of the wastes in your tank already.  Put another way. You won't grow twice as many bacteria by having twice as much media because you haven't given the bacteria any more food than before.

It is interesting that you mention the media looking green as this might indicate algae growth, are you having problems with algae in the rest of the tank? Can you describe in a little more detail why you believe the media to be 'dirty'?

Also is your old media still in the filter? Id move it back in there if its somewhere away from the filter flow at the moment...