Aquaclear and biomax filter media

wilioli

wilioli

Member
I just upgraded to an aquaclear 50 (from the mini) and the new filter came with media. It came with foam, carbon and biomax. I've read enough threads where people say stay away from the foam (unless I want to clean it once a week) and just filter floss... -- use carbon as needed... but nothin really about biomax, and these 'stones'. The packaging says to replace it every 2 months. I've read some people saying as to use it 'forever'... what do you guys think/advise?
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Before I got my skimmer, I had a AQ 70 on my 47g. It is now on my QT. I changed the carbon about once a month, still using the original foam and biomax. I just rinse* the foam well in used tank water, swish the biomax in the same, still using it after 8 months. I see no compelling reason to buy new.
*by rinse well, I mean dunk in the water and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze and....
it will hold a LOT of junk
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///forum/thread/381776/aquaclear-and-biomax-filter-media#post_3327602
Before I got my skimmer, I had a AQ 70 on my 47g. It is now on my QT. I changed the carbon about once a month, still using the original foam and biomax. I just rinse* the foam well in used tank water, swish the biomax in the same, still using it after 8 months. I see no compelling reason to buy new.
*by rinse well, I mean dunk in the water and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze and....
it will hold a LOT of junk
sweet, then im gonna use the foam!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lil.guppy http:///forum/thread/381776/aquaclear-and-biomax-filter-media#post_3327625
I used both the stones and the sponges in all 4 of my tanks with no issues
and how often do u rinse them out?
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
so if there' a lot of crap -- wouldn't it be better to just use filter floss? I mean i got some pillow stuffing from walmart -- bout 12oz for 4 bucks.. not sure why its measured in oz's -- anyways, its a fair size bag -- a lot of it.. same material as filter floss... i replace it twice a week... or so... same deal or a different effect with the foam im missin out on?
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Others may differ or correct me, but I want to keep the bacterial that is in the foam. Cleaning only takes a minute or so.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Again, I need someone else for confirmation, but as I understand it, it is a matter of surface area. I would guess that maybe the foam and bio thingys might have the same surface area of a small/medium piece of porous live rock

What the foam or floss will never have is the anerobic bacterial that lives inside live rock.
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///forum/thread/381776/aquaclear-and-biomax-filter-media#post_3328120
Again, I need someone else for confirmation, but as I understand it, it is a matter of surface area. I would guess that maybe the foam and bio thingys might have the same surface area of a small/medium piece of porous live rock

What the foam or floss will never have is the anerobic bacterial that lives inside live rock.
ah yes, i blanked on that -- i was assuming only anerobic bacteria -- and thought it predominated there... but yes, there must be a vast amount of 'other' bacteria .. gotcha.. thanks again
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Different bacterial does different things for you. Spanko posted a link to a very interesting article about bacterial the other day, I will link the post if I can find it again.
oh, and I misspelled in the above...it is anaerobic bacteria that lives inside rock, the guys that consume nitrates.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Every couple of weeks or every 3 weeks. I rinse them in water I took out from my tank. This way bacteria and beneficial things wont die
 
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