Life span of Bio-Media?

[joey02]

How often does everyone replace there bio-media? I sometimes rince my ceramic noodles in tank water but they still seam very dirty(disscolored really) Is there a time frame or usefull life span for this stuff?

 

[erider]

i would like to know as well

 

[addicted2cichlids]

i believe you dont replace it! just rinse here and there.

 

[Sic_Maggot13]

i heard it stays good for about two years

 

[BushFishRox]

I am quite sure you leave the media until it has eroded a lot and needing replaced

 

[tapeworm]

I've never trashed any of my biomedia, in fact when I see a deal on it I purchase more and keep stock piles of it. Always ready for a new tank or filter. For the most part just rinse every now and then. The discoloration comes with time and can actually indicate an adequately colonized bacteria on the media.

 

[Full Metal Gundam]

I have bio balls that are over 12yrs old and I never rinse them!!

 

[joey02]

Ok, well i have had the same media for a little more than a year, i just figured it may need to be changed. I thought that the tiny holes the the bacteria colonize eventually get clogged and then the media wouldnt have the same amount of surface area it may have had a year ago. I know that bio-media gets better with time. but,(this is only a thought) wouldnt it start to decrease in effectivness after awhile?

 

[spiff]

I haven't had a tank long enough to try this myself... but i hear that boiling that media cleans it right up...

 

[FSM]

And also kills every bit of the bacteria that grow on it, defeating the purpose of having it. Don't kill your bacteria, they are friends.