Whisper filter BIO-FOAM ?

mamacita9 · 01-03-2007, 07:51 PM

Hi everyone, I'm a new girl on the block with a question. After reading some of the questions and answers Im thinking that alot of you will be wondering how I've managed not to kill any fish. I have a 30 gallon filter on a ten gallon tank thats been up and running for a about a year now with the same Bio-foam sponge. I've rinsed it out once recently in some water that i removed while doing a water change because the water was running over the wonder tube chamber excessively. It's quite clogged with dark green "stuff". I have changed the carbon filter part regulary. What will happen if I replace the foam sponge? What about the beneficial bacteria? Or is it just a clogged algea sponge now? water parameters have always been good except for the nitrates being a bit high. 80ppm. Ive had a panda cory, two danios, and two high-fin platy's in the tank. Oh plus a rosy barb i moved from another tank. Any advice would be great , thanks

BJP · 01-03-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

What will happen if I replace the foam sponge? What about the beneficial bacteria?

When they first came out I aquired about 10 of the things and crammed them in some of my Whispers. I can't swear I noticed any difference at all from having them or not having them other than the clogging you see and a tendency to have them melt when bleach was added to a couple tanks.

If you chose to stop using them you will inevitably remove some bacteria but that amount of bacteria should rapidly generate in other places to replace it and you'll most likely not notice a difference. If you're worried about it then extract it at about the halfway point of your current Filter bags life expectency. That way there will be plenty of bacteria left on that surface while more increases elsewhere.

I expect you actually extract way more bacteria every time you replace an old Whisper bag with a new one than you could ever lose extracting the grid thing.

mamacita9 · 01-03-2007, 08:31 PM

Thank you for your quick reply, as this has been bugging me quite a bit. I guess i will remove it.

Sniperelite8243 · 01-03-2007, 08:35 PM

uh. when you say a year and are wondering about the bacteria. have you replaced it anytime in this past year. you should replace the cartrage 1ce a month exept during the cycling process.

as for the bacteria question. very little of the bacteria that you need is on the filter. there is some but all the bacteria you need is in your substrate so it wouldnt hurt to change the filter cartrage.

change everything every month even the sponge. you can go alot longer. when i used to have those types of filters i followed a personal rule. when water starts to overflow change the filter, and if you cant get a cartrage right away, at least rinse it off.

also you said you have a 30 gallon filter on a 10 tank. your ahead of the game in this part of the hobby. you can never cycle your tank to much. the stronger the filter the cleaner the water.

you mention green stuff. well you've only had your tank a year. thats still a fairly new tank. and its most likely algea. im not saying once your tank is older you wont get algea. its just during the cycling process with all the wild water params, algea usually develops. its harder in an older tank, but still possible.

be very carefull not to overstock your tank

i am very glad to see that you cycled your tank

. i also hope that you have good luck and a fun experience with your fish. and that you've cycled the tank is proboly the reason you havn't lost any fish

.

good luck
&
welcome to the forum.

mamacita9 · 01-03-2007, 08:55 PM

I expected somebody was gonna question something ! Yeah, I've never taken out the sponge, just the carbon filters. I reuse the grid each time and just replace the foam and carbon. I wonder all the time what I've done to have such good luck. I have had a couple of algea blooms, but figured out it was the light being on too long. So, thats been trial and error since I have a live Sword plant in there too. I love this hobby, the fish are so funny. Some people think they dont have a brain, but I've learned by owning them that they are very smart. I also have had a couple of betta's for 2 yrs now ( in two 5 gallon tanks) and they are quite smart also. I'm so new to this forum stuff that I'm not sure how to use it properly, but so far so good. thanks for your reply.