my dad is a super clean guy, always wants everything pristine. when we had a fish tank he wanted to clean all the gravel and decorations to get every bit of algae off, and he replaced the filter cartridges all the time. then he was confused why the fish kept dying while i tried to explain that algae and bacteria are actually good for the health of a tank
I **know** he's always heard how pretty his eyes are, with the natural eyeliner look, and I've avoided this comment for years, but I'm just sleepy-drinky enough to mention it now. Lol
If for whatever reason you can't get the mesh bags and other parts (I've been on that situation), you can use the disposable filter until it's literally falling apart. And when you absolutely have to change the filter and not a moment before, rinse your old filter in a bucket of old tank water during a change and soak your new filter in the dirty nasty water to seed the beneficial bacteria. I did that for the longest time. It wasn't perfect but it was certainly better than losing all of my bacteria.
Oh its def better than nothing. U can also keep the old filter in the tank (in a mesh bag if its falling apart) whilst ur running ur new filter for first week or 2. Ull still have ur existing colony (albeit working less efficiently) whilst ur new one is growing.
@@Simon_Electric I think swapping them out one at a time is a great idea. It'll help preserve the good bacteria in the filter system. The issue most people face is they don't preserve the beneficial bacteria at all, so their perimeters spike. I would say to go ahead and try it out, but make sure you do more frequent water tests for a while. That way you can do water changes if necessary and know exactly how it will effect your tank for next time. Also consider writing stuff down in a notebook for reference in the future.
I actually like to have these filters, but I only change the cartridge if I absolutely have to (If it’s literally falling apart or something) and I rinse and clean the cartridge in some tank water every month or so. I usually end up changing the filter cartridge every 8 months to a year, and when I put the new cartridge in I let it absorb some tank water for a day or so.
Same they also sell the carts that are for ammonia and nitrate all that good stuff to help or grab the liquids to nurture the water too helps a lot of u clean it crazy one time cause u will have to sometimes every like few months
I had a filter like that for my beloved goldfish. One day, upon arriving home from work, I found that his "dirty" filter (that wasn't even all that dirty yet) had some how been so clogged that no water was going through it anymore and somehow created some kind of surface tension with the holder that it was in so the pump was actually pumping water out or his tank rather than recycling his old water. He only had 2 inches of water at the bottom of his tank. I ran to refill his tank and went to the store to get a new filter and bigger tank for him but he freaked out and died. RIP buddy. I still miss you. You were the coolest goldfish ever and you were my friend and kept me company when I moved out of my parent's house so I wouldn't feel alone. ❤️
EXACTLY. This is why I hate those filters that are clipped onto the side of the tank. Currently on my tank (10 gal) I have a small bucket filter meant for a turtle tank. It's about the size of a paperback book. I have not had any deaths or water quality issues since changing my filter and switching to sand.
I have a cartridge filter but I fixed that problem by still using them without the blue part and adding bio rings in a mesh bag and also a sponge. The cartridge definitely helps as it has activated carbon with makes your water very clear. You can replace it every 2 months. The bio rings and sponge should not be replaced.
I have HOB filters that I added a peace of sponge and I set it up well over a year ago and I have never touched it but I added some terrestrial plants in the filter.
That's why I did surgery on mine. I removed the carbon in it. It became some nice filter floss. That slotted in. Than I went ahead and threw in a sponge and ceramic media.
I personally have small filters that use this when I replace my cartridge I just sit the new cartridge in the tank or my other tanks for a few hours before replacing never had any issues or deaths from this he is 100% correct just hope what I do can help others who can’t get some other filters👍
💯 im always telling people this exact information whenever I see someone saying they have these filters or they're thinking of buying one. I like aquaclear hang on back, and fluval canisters. That's all I've ever used. Customizable media is the best option. Replacing media is just a money grab for these companies. I rarely ever replace the carbon.
I literally was trying to find something to replace those filter cartridges but this guy at the pet store was like nope you can’t do that. Your filter is too small but after opening the box and looking at it I totally could get a mesh bag and do this because there’s a ton of room behind the sponge where the replaceable cartridge would sit.
This caught my attention because that’s the exact filter I use for Jeb’s (my fish) fish tank. Thank you 😅 also can you elaborate or show how to place the homemade filter in?
I use a filter cartridge for my Betta, when I replace it every few months i rub the side without dirt and poop on the new one and sort of squeeze it out onto my new filter, also I never talked my Betta out to deep clean my tank, I'm working on getting a gravel cleaner, but I just wipe things coated in algae (usually a cave or glass, the plants don't get much) with a paper towel so that bacteria can grow back. Also his name is fishy and I love him.
Thats why I got a sea sponge type thing for my filter, and I just rise it out once in a while. Also day 143 of asking for you to name a fish Mr. Goggles or Nugget
This is why I love canisters so much. There’s so much room for customization of filter media. Just stuff some ceramic media and poly fill in there and your good to go. The only HOB I like are the aqua clears. They work just as well as most canisters imo.
Thank you for this. As a newbie I forget or get confused- especially when shopping for tank Maintnence stuff. I accidentally purchased a bag of seachem (purguen )sp? And decided to try it out and OMG. My dirted planted tank use to Look like a cup O’ tea- eve after water changes. In 12 hours it looked crystal clear! ❤ that stuff.
I actually like them a lot it uses floss instead of anything else Wich floss is what I use in my filters anyways they work fine no reason to hate on the filtration. I never throw out the pads I’ve had the same pads in a tank for six years 😂
If you want a cheap alternative, poly-fil makes excellent filtration for super cheap. And you can use lava rock from Lowe’s or something as filter media if you rinse it off well.
I've used these filters for years. The back filters work great to remove larger particles. I don't throw them away, I simply spray off the gunk, with cool water, and reuse them. I also like them for taller tanks. My 45 hex always ran best with a filter on top and bottom of the tank.
Thats why I prefer sumps. Run some pvc with some crate and removable tops; have one for sponges, media, heat, *additives, *uvc, *activated charcoal and then have that go into a return compartment. Plus you can have your return have a drain and then do your water changes by slowly adding water back in before the heat compartment. *All these are optional and even if you install those compartments you don't need to actually have those things in there unless you want/need them. Helps with rings from evaporative losses since the water line is established by your overflow, so losses are replaced and ultimately end up in the return compartment. You can even go crazy with protien skimmers, refugiums, moving media, whatever your little heart wants to add in, but honestly a sponge followed by some media surface is all you really need
I have one but I use the same cart just rinse it a lil but they have the sponge pads that are more ammonia or minerals for ur tank I also put some liquids that’s for nurturing the water for them
Hey man I use sponges and media rounds for both my tanks. I recommend getting a marine land pro 110 if you want all the benefits of bacteria growing and keeping your tank healthy for 2 to 3 months at a time before having to clean
I'm currently using one of these, but the filter is for a 15 to 30 gallon tank and a have a 3 gallon, so I have it set, so it's just a trickle, and sometime soon I'm going to pit some loos filter material that's like cotton on the bottom and then cover the cotton with gravel and sand and then I'm going to put a pothos vine in it.
God i wish i new about your content before i got my fish! I spent 2 years trying to keep goldfish and the jerks at the pet atore kept assuring me i was doing everything tight. Jerks just wanted my money and didnt care if they sold healthy fish or not. I didnt know that then. But now i know why my tank kept getting such massive amonia spikes! Thank you so much, i dont have fish anymore , i gave up because i kept seeming to fail, but after learning from you i might try it again, once i move to a place that allows aquariums
If the tank is stable, it's not going to crash anything unless you are doing extreme water changes. As someone who is running 7 of my 8 current setups with hang on backs or internal filters, it's more cost prohibitive. All of mine have pre-filters on the intakes to reduce large particles from clogging anything. If I buy a new unit, I use the included filter until it's no longer working (nothing goes through) and then swap for filter pad and media bags with whatever I decide it needs. My mom buys those in bulk. The ammonia spike she had in her tank was from a feline temper tantrum and cat pee will definitely kill all your fish no matter how stable it was to begin with. Those filters can be a gateway to the hobby and help those who can't make their own or buy some of the other options stay in the hobby. I learned with those and it has helped me understand how things should function
That all depends on the HoB/cartridge filter you've got. Some of the ones you can purchase (such as the Sicce/Seachem Tidal series and the Fluval/Hagen AquaClear series) use bio-media, carbon, and a sponge. You can also add zeolite/zeocarb alongside that. The cheap ones (no-names from places like Pet-Smart, "low-maintenance" filters like the cheap Tetra ones) just come with the little filter pads, but even Pet Smart started to release their own brand of "premium filters" with the aforementioned bio setup. If it's any good, I cannot say. Haven't bought it myself. Don't have to toss the filter cartridge every couple weeks. Clean it out in a bucket of tank water if it gets dirty, then put it back in. Once it's time to change the old filter pad, you can keep the carbon/bio-media and toss the pad, soak the new filter pad in some tank water for a little while, then pour the old media into the new filter pad. Edit: I forgot to mention the second intake on the Sicce/Seachem Tidal filter. It's placed higher than the first one, pulling in floating/dead plant matter, which keeps it from getting into the impeller bay, jamming it up. I've got one of these, but I've yet to test it. Gonna upgrade to a larger tank for my adult mollies, and I've got one internal filter, one traditional sponge filter, and the Tidal HoB as a backup.
I have a aqua flow 75, the come with weird cartridges. But I just made own cartridge. With one sponge that never leaves the cartridge and filled up with different textures and one just white filter that I can take out, put in a new one and the beneficial bacteria can keep going
I have a few of these kinds of filters bc they're convenient and accessible, but I only use and would only ever recommend the ones with 3 sections, a case for bio media (that I usually replace with my own) and 2 separate inserts that I honestly barely ever replace, just rinse them out like normal filter sponges etc, but if I do replace one it's once they're no good anymore, and never at the same time, I make sure I leave the other in for AT LEAST a month before I replace that one too. That way there's still one insert and the bio media for the bacteria balance 😁
tbh when i had one of those for my fish when i was younger, i never changed it. it fused to the filter holder at one point, so it’s not like i could. the fish lived for years and his tank was never gross, so i’d say we were both happy with me not changing the filter
I run 2 seachem tidal 110s on my 55g denison barb tank. No cartridges and room for tons of bio media. Best hob on the market. At first I thought the self priming thing wouldn't be a big deal, but now I love it
A Pro tip... don't throw these away, strip the filter floss or the mess thing, left with the plastic portions with the slits, you can grow Java moss in it. Just place the moss in the partition and glue a net on the other side to hold the moss in place.
For me I’ve got a 55 gallon and a power filter. My filter calls for 2 cartridges. I just clean mine in tank water and every couple of months I’ll put one new cartridge in and leave an old one in there. And that’s been working for me so far
Aqua clear hang on back filters aren't always the best but their media is great. I always buy the super silent or large capacity hang on filters but stock it with Aqua clear sponge and media bag products. Makes a great hang on back filter waaay better
The crappy filters I was using would clog up in just a few days and was so expensive. I recently upgraded by replacing those money-sucking filters with a three part Fluval media and the difference in tank water quality is enormous. By using three different types of filters, they are replaced at different times, thus saving my beneficial bacteria. The shrimp keep the tank very clean, too.
I have that sort of cartridge, I dont replace it though, Every couple of months I just rinse it with some tank water and then return it to the tank, then about a month later I clean my ammonia pads
when I used these, I used them for like a year each, until they fell apart. then when I replaced it, I put the old cartridge near the intake for the filter for a month or more
I always say just d.i.y ur filter media. Not only is it’s over all better but it’s also cheaper and straight up fun mixing and matching mechanisms Maybe I’ll go lava rock, sponge, floss. Or gravel, kitchen sponge, and moss. It’s fun once u understand how it works.
I feel really bad now. I just did a large water change and also changed my fishes filter pads recently. I took out the white pad and green algae pad and then realised I didn't have replacements, so I put the green one back in as it didn't look too bad but I kept the used-to-be-white one out as I thought it was "dirty" and I felt that putting the very dirty one back in the clean water would be bad.
I use them sometimes, but what I do is leave the old cartridge in the tank for a few weeks after changing them out. Gives the bacteria a better chance, AND the fish enjoy nibbling on the algae that grew on the pad LOL I also leave them in for waaayyyyyyyy longer than recommended on the box- usually several months, until they arent catching gunk from the tank anymore and shaking it off in tank water isnt helping. I mainly use sponge filters now, though. I tend to only pop the HOBs on when I need to clear out meds or the water gets too many floaties.
I rinse the “disposable” ones. Never thought to toss it all away. They rinse good enough. Not a fantastic medium, but no way am I chucking it. Expensive also.
I put new ones in but I do it in a water change then with the water in a 5 gallon bucket I put the old one in with the water and soak the new one in there till it has a tint of brown then put it in my filter then it’s at least a little cleaner but still gets the job done
We used these for a while, it was fine as long as you had enough other material in the tank for bacteria to live in. We had saltwater so we'd use those "live rocks". Wouldn't recommend though bc they often have things like snails or those lil anemones and once those get in your tank, good luck ever getting rid of them..
The activated carbon in them makes it difficult to just wash and put back because the carbon will leak out after a month. If it didn’t have activated carbon inside of them they would have been perfect and wouldn’t neeed to be replaced
I use a aquarium polyester fiber the same way you would a sponge and then also Lava rocks. Had all my fish die with a normal cartridge, switched, never had a issue cause my Lava rocks hold all the good stuff while I give the polyester a good little rinse in their water taken out🙏
Also ur the reason I love goldfish so much. I got 2 commons and one telescope eye and they r my babies. Hope to have the money to buy from you some day!!!
You have a point but there is beneficial bacteria elsewhere in the tank…. On and in the substrate, the heater , any plants and decorations and even on the walls. I use a filter and typically just rinse it clean and reuse the insert.
I have 2 sponges and a penguin filter what I did was when starting the penguin I put a pad in let it run 2 -2 an a half weeks then put in a second one let them both run another 2 an a half week then took out older an so on but the sponges are on similar cycle clean one leave on just to keep all the beneficial bacteria I also clean sponges in tank water
It depends on how your tank is set up, but other things in the tank will carry beneficial bacteria, such as the substrate and decor/plants. Those plastic plates in the filter are also designed to carry bacteria. If you do modify your filter, just find a way to keep your old filter cartridge in the tank for a little while until the new one is nice and dirty or gunky.
I have a 40-gallon with 2x 60-gallon sponge filters and 1x 45-gallon HOB, so when it comes time to even take the cartridge out, my cycle doesn't crash I have changed it out once only because it had ripped, and I didn't want everything to get everywhere
I was broke middle schooler and highschooler and i actually would never throw those away my fish lasted long lives even bred UNTIL I was a sophomore in college. The water in my city was contaminated for over a week without the public knowing. My first warning should’ve been my fish died (without warning) then an alert came out to not even boil water because it was contaminated. Gotta love the U S of A.
I had one of these filters and all I did was clean the cartridge. Later found that I could just replace the cartridge with a sponge.i can confidently say I’ve never had a tank with cleaner water than that one
![NoCap - Maliboo [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FUV7E0QyniU/mqdefault.jpg)
my dad is a super clean guy, always wants everything pristine. when we had a fish tank he wanted to clean all the gravel and decorations to get every bit of algae off, and he replaced the filter cartridges all the time. then he was confused why the fish kept dying while i tried to explain that algae and bacteria are actually good for the health of a tank
My dad cleans the filter cartriges with the tank water and replaces it once every few months
@@NotRuyakigood?😂
@@obamama4632wdym ?
@@NotRuyaki
Dont mind them, your dad's doing great
@@obamama4632 ??
I **know** he's always heard how pretty his eyes are, with the natural eyeliner look, and I've avoided this comment for years, but I'm just sleepy-drinky enough to mention it now. Lol
Someone come get Melissa
@@isdisgudnam yes plz.... But at least 6 ppl agree with me in such a short time. Lol
@go lo really?! That's actually pretty great, so now I can stop being jealous. Lol
@@golo5461no I don’t 😂 I’m Armenian
@@lukesgoldies haha. That's even greater news. Now I can rest assured my jealousy and admiration is warranted. Lol
I think you just single-handedly increased your viewers’ goldfishes lifespans by at least like 5 years haha
If for whatever reason you can't get the mesh bags and other parts (I've been on that situation), you can use the disposable filter until it's literally falling apart. And when you absolutely have to change the filter and not a moment before, rinse your old filter in a bucket of old tank water during a change and soak your new filter in the dirty nasty water to seed the beneficial bacteria. I did that for the longest time. It wasn't perfect but it was certainly better than losing all of my bacteria.
Oh its def better than nothing. U can also keep the old filter in the tank (in a mesh bag if its falling apart) whilst ur running ur new filter for first week or 2. Ull still have ur existing colony (albeit working less efficiently) whilst ur new one is growing.
I have a dual cartridge filter. Do you think swiping out just one of them and we're placing it with a new one will hurt my tank?
@@Simon_Electric I think swapping them out one at a time is a great idea. It'll help preserve the good bacteria in the filter system. The issue most people face is they don't preserve the beneficial bacteria at all, so their perimeters spike. I would say to go ahead and try it out, but make sure you do more frequent water tests for a while. That way you can do water changes if necessary and know exactly how it will effect your tank for next time. Also consider writing stuff down in a notebook for reference in the future.
Yea i used my cartrage until it was literally falling apart😅
@@Simon_Electricthis is exactly what i do and my boys are happy. Just got a canister filter for Christmas though, so we’ll see how that goes
No wonder why my fair ground goldfish lived for like eight years lmao.
Sponge filters take up super large space that’s why I like hob filters
I actually like to have these filters, but I only change the cartridge if I absolutely have to (If it’s literally falling apart or something) and I rinse and clean the cartridge in some tank water every month or so. I usually end up changing the filter cartridge every 8 months to a year, and when I put the new cartridge in I let it absorb some tank water for a day or so.
Same they also sell the carts that are for ammonia and nitrate all that good stuff to help or grab the liquids to nurture the water too helps a lot of u clean it crazy one time cause u will have to sometimes every like few months
I had a filter like that for my beloved goldfish. One day, upon arriving home from work, I found that his "dirty" filter (that wasn't even all that dirty yet) had some how been so clogged that no water was going through it anymore and somehow created some kind of surface tension with the holder that it was in so the pump was actually pumping water out or his tank rather than recycling his old water. He only had 2 inches of water at the bottom of his tank. I ran to refill his tank and went to the store to get a new filter and bigger tank for him but he freaked out and died. RIP buddy. I still miss you. You were the coolest goldfish ever and you were my friend and kept me company when I moved out of my parent's house so I wouldn't feel alone. ❤️
You have to use something to neutralize the chlorine in the tap water. Chlorine will kill EVERYTHING in your tank or fish bowl.
EXACTLY. This is why I hate those filters that are clipped onto the side of the tank. Currently on my tank (10 gal) I have a small bucket filter meant for a turtle tank. It's about the size of a paperback book. I have not had any deaths or water quality issues since changing my filter and switching to sand.
I like using fluval sponge aswell as ceramic beads in my filter, I use a bag of fluval charcoal aswell all can just be rinsed in tank water.
Me too I used to clean and reuse them but sponge filters are so much better that get the ceramic media
ALSO, they’re so so expensive too!
I have a cartridge filter but I fixed that problem by still using them without the blue part and adding bio rings in a mesh bag and also a sponge. The cartridge definitely helps as it has activated carbon with makes your water very clear. You can replace it every 2 months. The bio rings and sponge should not be replaced.
Finally someone addresses this, thank you!!!
I have HOB filters that I added a peace of sponge and I set it up well over a year ago and I have never touched it but I added some terrestrial plants in the filter.
I love fish ever since i started watching you haha :>
That's why I did surgery on mine. I removed the carbon in it. It became some nice filter floss. That slotted in. Than I went ahead and threw in a sponge and ceramic media.
you still need the carbon…
I personally have small filters that use this when I replace my cartridge I just sit the new cartridge in the tank or my other tanks for a few hours before replacing never had any issues or deaths from this he is 100% correct just hope what I do can help others who can’t get some other filters👍
Day 119 of asking Luke to name a goldfish Stuart
Never stop
💯 im always telling people this exact information whenever I see someone saying they have these filters or they're thinking of buying one. I like aquaclear hang on back, and fluval canisters. That's all I've ever used. Customizable media is the best option. Replacing media is just a money grab for these companies. I rarely ever replace the carbon.
Omg thank you for this I had been replacing the ones in my 4 tanks for months now. Thank you!!
I will be doing this to my tanks with HOB filters! Thank luke!
I’m never gonna get over the fact that this dude looks like a literal gigachad
I literally was trying to find something to replace those filter cartridges but this guy at the pet store was like nope you can’t do that. Your filter is too small but after opening the box and looking at it I totally could get a mesh bag and do this because there’s a ton of room behind the sponge where the replaceable cartridge would sit.
This caught my attention because that’s the exact filter I use for Jeb’s (my fish) fish tank. Thank you 😅 also can you elaborate or show how to place the homemade filter in?
He has a short on it but it's from months ago I don't know if you wanna go that far back
I use a filter cartridge for my Betta, when I replace it every few months i rub the side without dirt and poop on the new one and sort of squeeze it out onto my new filter, also I never talked my Betta out to deep clean my tank, I'm working on getting a gravel cleaner, but I just wipe things coated in algae (usually a cave or glass, the plants don't get much) with a paper towel so that bacteria can grow back. Also his name is fishy and I love him.
Thats why I got a sea sponge type thing for my filter, and I just rise it out once in a while.
Also day 143 of asking for you to name a fish Mr. Goggles or Nugget
This is why I love canisters so much. There’s so much room for customization of filter media. Just stuff some ceramic media and poly fill in there and your good to go.
The only HOB I like are the aqua clears. They work just as well as most canisters imo.
In most water filters that use those disposable filters come with a sponge made to collect the beneficial bacteria
I learned this the hard way as a new fish keeper. I was completely incredulous when I learned the truth.
I use the filter cartridges, but I don't ever replace them. I haven't had any problems, but I'm merely an amateur aquarium keeper, lol
Thank you for this. As a newbie I forget or get confused- especially when shopping for tank Maintnence stuff. I accidentally purchased a bag of seachem (purguen )sp? And decided to try it out and OMG. My dirted planted tank use to
Look like a cup O’ tea- eve after water changes. In 12 hours it looked crystal clear! ❤ that stuff.
You have gorgeous eyelashes
I actually like them a lot it uses floss instead of anything else Wich floss is what I use in my filters anyways they work fine no reason to hate on the filtration. I never throw out the pads I’ve had the same pads in a tank for six years 😂
If you want a cheap alternative, poly-fil makes excellent filtration for super cheap.
And you can use lava rock from Lowe’s or something as filter media if you rinse it off well.
That’s why you use at least two and replace one at a time.
polyfill for pillows is great to put in thoes to take out all of the fine particulates
I do this too! It works! 🖤🔥💯
I've used these filters for years. The back filters work great to remove larger particles. I don't throw them away, I simply spray off the gunk, with cool water, and reuse them. I also like them for taller tanks. My 45 hex always ran best with a filter on top and bottom of the tank.
Thats why I prefer sumps. Run some pvc with some crate and removable tops; have one for sponges, media, heat, *additives, *uvc, *activated charcoal and then have that go into a return compartment. Plus you can have your return have a drain and then do your water changes by slowly adding water back in before the heat compartment. *All these are optional and even if you install those compartments you don't need to actually have those things in there unless you want/need them.
Helps with rings from evaporative losses since the water line is established by your overflow, so losses are replaced and ultimately end up in the return compartment.
You can even go crazy with protien skimmers, refugiums, moving media, whatever your little heart wants to add in, but honestly a sponge followed by some media surface is all you really need
I have one but I use the same cart just rinse it a lil but they have the sponge pads that are more ammonia or minerals for ur tank I also put some liquids that’s for nurturing the water for them
your eyelashes are so luscious
ideally one would have some kind of sponge filter alongside the carbon filter- that keeps the bacteria colony. but yeah i can kinda see your point
My 5gal tank's cartridge is 3 years old going strong lol, the dirtier filters are without fully clogging up, the better!
Hey man I use sponges and media rounds for both my tanks. I recommend getting a marine land pro 110 if you want all the benefits of bacteria growing and keeping your tank healthy for 2 to 3 months at a time before having to clean
I'm currently using one of these, but the filter is for a 15 to 30 gallon tank and a have a 3 gallon, so I have it set, so it's just a trickle, and sometime soon I'm going to pit some loos filter material that's like cotton on the bottom and then cover the cotton with gravel and sand and then I'm going to put a pothos vine in it.
I always soak the filter pad with a little quick start and it’s worked great
Rinse and reuse! Until it literally falls apart.
God i wish i new about your content before i got my fish! I spent 2 years trying to keep goldfish and the jerks at the pet atore kept assuring me i was doing everything tight. Jerks just wanted my money and didnt care if they sold healthy fish or not. I didnt know that then. But now i know why my tank kept getting such massive amonia spikes! Thank you so much, i dont have fish anymore , i gave up because i kept seeming to fail, but after learning from you i might try it again, once i move to a place that allows aquariums
I use those filter cartridges but I usually rinse them out every month until they get super duper bad then I replace them
If the tank is stable, it's not going to crash anything unless you are doing extreme water changes. As someone who is running 7 of my 8 current setups with hang on backs or internal filters, it's more cost prohibitive. All of mine have pre-filters on the intakes to reduce large particles from clogging anything. If I buy a new unit, I use the included filter until it's no longer working (nothing goes through) and then swap for filter pad and media bags with whatever I decide it needs.
My mom buys those in bulk. The ammonia spike she had in her tank was from a feline temper tantrum and cat pee will definitely kill all your fish no matter how stable it was to begin with. Those filters can be a gateway to the hobby and help those who can't make their own or buy some of the other options stay in the hobby. I learned with those and it has helped me understand how things should function
Very neat I wish I had room for a goldfish then this info would be useful to me lol
I use these but since the filters cost so much I clean the filter a little bit and I leave some bacteria from the fish on there! Hope this helps
That all depends on the HoB/cartridge filter you've got. Some of the ones you can purchase (such as the Sicce/Seachem Tidal series and the Fluval/Hagen AquaClear series) use bio-media, carbon, and a sponge. You can also add zeolite/zeocarb alongside that.
The cheap ones (no-names from places like Pet-Smart, "low-maintenance" filters like the cheap Tetra ones) just come with the little filter pads, but even Pet Smart started to release their own brand of "premium filters" with the aforementioned bio setup. If it's any good, I cannot say. Haven't bought it myself.
Don't have to toss the filter cartridge every couple weeks. Clean it out in a bucket of tank water if it gets dirty, then put it back in.
Once it's time to change the old filter pad, you can keep the carbon/bio-media and toss the pad, soak the new filter pad in some tank water for a little while, then pour the old media into the new filter pad.
Edit: I forgot to mention the second intake on the Sicce/Seachem Tidal filter. It's placed higher than the first one, pulling in floating/dead plant matter, which keeps it from getting into the impeller bay, jamming it up. I've got one of these, but I've yet to test it. Gonna upgrade to a larger tank for my adult mollies, and I've got one internal filter, one traditional sponge filter, and the Tidal HoB as a backup.
Common Luke W always wanting the best for us
Bro thanks for the advice, I was about to make a big mistake buying one of these filters. Keep up you are awesome😊
I have a aqua flow 75, the come with weird cartridges. But I just made own cartridge. With one sponge that never leaves the cartridge and filled up with different textures and one just white filter that I can take out, put in a new one and the beneficial bacteria can keep going
I have a few of these kinds of filters bc they're convenient and accessible, but I only use and would only ever recommend the ones with 3 sections, a case for bio media (that I usually replace with my own) and 2 separate inserts that I honestly barely ever replace, just rinse them out like normal filter sponges etc, but if I do replace one it's once they're no good anymore, and never at the same time, I make sure I leave the other in for AT LEAST a month before I replace that one too. That way there's still one insert and the bio media for the bacteria balance 😁
tbh when i had one of those for my fish when i was younger, i never changed it. it fused to the filter holder at one point, so it’s not like i could. the fish lived for years and his tank was never gross, so i’d say we were both happy with me not changing the filter
I used to have one of them but now I have a big filter that uses less space is so much better
I run 2 seachem tidal 110s on my 55g denison barb tank. No cartridges and room for tons of bio media. Best hob on the market. At first I thought the self priming thing wouldn't be a big deal, but now I love it
A Pro tip... don't throw these away, strip the filter floss or the mess thing, left with the plastic portions with the slits, you can grow Java moss in it. Just place the moss in the partition and glue a net on the other side to hold the moss in place.
It's bad because sometimes it causes fish tanks to crash! But for them it's good since you have to buy even MORE of their products
For me I’ve got a 55 gallon and a power filter. My filter calls for 2 cartridges. I just clean mine in tank water and every couple of months I’ll put one new cartridge in and leave an old one in there. And that’s been working for me so far
thats why I only rinse off the excess debris and keep useing the same filter.
Aqua clear hang on back filters aren't always the best but their media is great. I always buy the super silent or large capacity hang on filters but stock it with Aqua clear sponge and media bag products. Makes a great hang on back filter waaay better
Gonna send this to a friend
The crappy filters I was using would clog up in just a few days and was so expensive. I recently upgraded by replacing those money-sucking filters with a three part Fluval media and the difference in tank water quality is enormous. By using three different types of filters, they are replaced at different times, thus saving my beneficial bacteria. The shrimp keep the tank very clean, too.
Ah so that explains why those goldfish died when I was a kid. RIP sam
That’s why I’m saving up for a Fluval
I have the disposable ones, but Ive used the same one since I bought the filter. I just rinse it.
I have that sort of cartridge, I dont replace it though, Every couple of months I just rinse it with some tank water and then return it to the tank, then about a month later I clean my ammonia pads
Fish when ammonia spikes: AAAUGH!!!
We need a Mr French fry documentary.
when I used these, I used them for like a year each, until they fell apart. then when I replaced it, I put the old cartridge near the intake for the filter for a month or more
I always say just d.i.y ur filter media. Not only is it’s over all better but it’s also cheaper and straight up fun mixing and matching mechanisms
Maybe I’ll go lava rock, sponge, floss. Or gravel, kitchen sponge, and moss. It’s fun once u understand how it works.
I feel really bad now. I just did a large water change and also changed my fishes filter pads recently. I took out the white pad and green algae pad and then realised I didn't have replacements, so I put the green one back in as it didn't look too bad but I kept the used-to-be-white one out as I thought it was "dirty" and I felt that putting the very dirty one back in the clean water would be bad.
Those things do have a filter part meant to hold bacteria that you leave alone though. And most beneficial bacteria is in the tank not the filter
I always just... Rinsed them... Until they started to fall apart
The blue disk in front of the filter cartridge houses the bacteria
I use them sometimes, but what I do is leave the old cartridge in the tank for a few weeks after changing them out. Gives the bacteria a better chance, AND the fish enjoy nibbling on the algae that grew on the pad LOL
I also leave them in for waaayyyyyyyy longer than recommended on the box- usually several months, until they arent catching gunk from the tank anymore and shaking it off in tank water isnt helping.
I mainly use sponge filters now, though. I tend to only pop the HOBs on when I need to clear out meds or the water gets too many floaties.
Your so smart man ! You always teaching me the mistakes I made
Glad to help
I rinse the “disposable” ones. Never thought to toss it all away. They rinse good enough. Not a fantastic medium, but no way am I chucking it. Expensive also.
We’ve been over how you wear makeup in your vid’s (still not over how good it looks) do you wear that all the time or just for videos?
That’s why I have an aqueon 10 filter with Five layer filtration and a sponge filter for 25 gallons of water
I put new ones in but I do it in a water change then with the water in a 5 gallon bucket I put the old one in with the water and soak the new one in there till it has a tint of brown then put it in my filter then it’s at least a little cleaner but still gets the job done
We used these for a while, it was fine as long as you had enough other material in the tank for bacteria to live in. We had saltwater so we'd use those "live rocks". Wouldn't recommend though bc they often have things like snails or those lil anemones and once those get in your tank, good luck ever getting rid of them..
Thank you!
i wish i had seen this a long time ago 😭
The activated carbon in them makes it difficult to just wash and put back because the carbon will leak out after a month. If it didn’t have activated carbon inside of them they would have been perfect and wouldn’t neeed to be replaced
I just rinse out the filter floss, and use a bit of ceramic media behind it.
I use a aquarium polyester fiber the same way you would a sponge and then also Lava rocks. Had all my fish die with a normal cartridge, switched, never had a issue cause my Lava rocks hold all the good stuff while I give the polyester a good little rinse in their water taken out🙏
Also ur the reason I love goldfish so much. I got 2 commons and one telescope eye and they r my babies. Hope to have the money to buy from you some day!!!
You have a point but there is beneficial bacteria elsewhere in the tank….
On and in the substrate, the heater , any plants and decorations and even on the walls. I use a filter and typically just rinse it clean and reuse the insert.
I have 2 sponges and a penguin filter what I did was when starting the penguin I put a pad in let it run 2 -2 an a half weeks then put in a second one let them both run another 2 an a half week then took out older an so on but the sponges are on similar cycle clean one leave on just to keep all the beneficial bacteria I also clean sponges in tank water
when i had a betta a few years ago i had a filter like that and it got infested with maggots
I feel so guilty because I had that kind of filter for my late betta fish Starburst
It depends on how your tank is set up, but other things in the tank will carry beneficial bacteria, such as the substrate and decor/plants. Those plastic plates in the filter are also designed to carry bacteria.
If you do modify your filter, just find a way to keep your old filter cartridge in the tank for a little while until the new one is nice and dirty or gunky.
I have a 40-gallon with 2x 60-gallon sponge filters and 1x 45-gallon HOB, so when it comes time to even take the cartridge out, my cycle doesn't crash I have changed it out once only because it had ripped, and I didn't want everything to get everywhere
I was broke middle schooler and highschooler and i actually would never throw those away my fish lasted long lives even bred UNTIL I was a sophomore in college. The water in my city was contaminated for over a week without the public knowing. My first warning should’ve been my fish died (without warning) then an alert came out to not even boil water because it was contaminated. Gotta love the U S of A.
I had one of these filters and all
I did was clean the cartridge. Later found that I could just replace the cartridge with a sponge.i can confidently say I’ve never had a tank with cleaner water than that one
sir!
can you please show us how you clean your sponge filters
humble request