aqua filters

by **tropical girl** on Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:55 pm

hi all,
does anyone use aqua flow filters?
i have used aqua flow 100 filter on my betta tank,
but due to losing him i had used medicine therefore
i removed the filter and thrown it away,
i have just reordered some but wanted to know
should you leave the charcoal in?
and it states to renew these every month?
i didnt on my last one but noticed it did look like it was
shrinking ,is this still ok to use,
otherwise you have got to cycle every month?
is it me or am i reading to much into this scratch

by **babyd** on Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:15 pm

I use the aquaflow 100 too. I remove the carbon (unless Im removing meds from water) I stuff the space left with either more sponge or filter wool, more space for bacteria growth.

I would only change sponge when the flow seems reduced and rinsing in tank water doesn't help. Then I would cut the new and old sponge in half and replace with half new and half old sponge, maybe replacing the other half a few weeks later, this should avoid a cycle happening.

Im not an expert and the others guys will be along soon to answer as well, but this is what I would do, going by what I have read.......