Actually, as with my other 150gal I used to own, I let the hair algae and other grow in one location to keep it off of the rocks, etc. Yes, I change my filter media, I have an intack media basket that holds my chemi pure, purigen and filter media. I have 40 sq ft of filter media, oh yeah and poly sorb, good stuff. I only feed my fish evry other day. I have a friend with a 300 gal wall unit, my water parameters are much better than his. Guess I have a green thumb for aquariums.