how often do i need to clean or replace my filter media? i have a sump filter with 4 filter pads and bio balls
Cleaning Media?
- Thread starter mymindseye81
- Start date
That depends on about 1,500 variables...
I believe in cleaning mechanical media frequently. Waste that it collects continues to break down adding pollutants to your system. Removing the solid waste prevents if from breaking down reducing the rate at which nitrates build up in your tank each week...
As for Bio Media... if the water entering it is (mechanically) prefiltered to the point of perfection, the Bio Media will not need to be cleaned often at all. Maybe once a year or every couple years. But in practical reality being filtered this well is unlikely.
If you are getting waste in your Bio Media, not only is that waste continuing to break down into pollutants, but it will break down into a "sludge" which will then begin to clog the valuable porous surface of your Bio Media drastically reducing their ability to house bacteria... and smothering bacteria that currently lives on the surfaces.
All in all, keeping every askpect of our system "poop free" is essential to maximizing the effeciency of our filters.
I believe in cleaning mechanical media frequently. Waste that it collects continues to break down adding pollutants to your system. Removing the solid waste prevents if from breaking down reducing the rate at which nitrates build up in your tank each week...
As for Bio Media... if the water entering it is (mechanically) prefiltered to the point of perfection, the Bio Media will not need to be cleaned often at all. Maybe once a year or every couple years. But in practical reality being filtered this well is unlikely.
If you are getting waste in your Bio Media, not only is that waste continuing to break down into pollutants, but it will break down into a "sludge" which will then begin to clog the valuable porous surface of your Bio Media drastically reducing their ability to house bacteria... and smothering bacteria that currently lives on the surfaces.
All in all, keeping every askpect of our system "poop free" is essential to maximizing the effeciency of our filters.
I saw another member post a while back about putting a polishing pad right before the bio. I've been trying that for a week or so & it works great. The polish pad I use on top is still clean.
I don't currently have a wet/dry sump running right now but when i did, i used scrubbies and i would rinse about half of them every 3 or 4 months, sometimes longer, just really whenever i thought about doing it, maybe not neccessary, but i did and never had any problems, just cleaned my filter pads about once a month.