why do you have to replace biomax?

[Dr Joe]

I was quoting one of the manufacturers on the dead bacteria (and you can't clean the pores). Just clean it in tank water and it it's not filtering properly you can change 25% at a time (one month in-between change outs) or get a second filter if possible.

And this is why I am not dependent on this sort of media.

Dr Joe

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[mz64life]

Are pot scrubbers the solution to this dilemma??

 

[Marius]

It's true that some of the surface area will eventually be lost in these highly porous medias, but I suspect that this is due primarily to the accumulation of sediment, rather than other factors. Nonetheless, you would expect to see some loss in sa over time. Most of us will remove at least superficial debris by rinsing the media with tank water each time we perform filter maintenance, but this topical rinsing probably does relatively little to deep clean the pores. Usually, the amount of biomedia employed is sufficiently robust to compensate for this dimunition in sa. For example, four years ago I set up my canister filters with Ehfisubstrat Pro. The fish have gotten larger and the volumes of food consumed have also increased...so more nitrogenous waste is being released. Yet, four years later, there has been no indication that the biologic media is failing to assimilate this waste....AND I have never changed or supplemented the media. The other thing to keep in mind is that if you elect to discard and replace say 1/3 of the media to replace "lost surface area", you are also throwing out 1/3 of your bacteria. So, there is a cost associated with this maneuver...not to mention the cost of the media, which can be substantial. My recommendation is that you simply rinse the media with tank water and forget about it, until such time that you see that it is no longer sufficient to handle your bioload.

^As he said

If, when you rinse the media, you notice some that are damaged and you feel funny about having imperfect pieces ...in the most genuine OCDed way, feel free to replace them

 

[ewurm]

I have been running the same biomax in AC's for 3 years in some filters with no problems.

 

[Gator]

Its also good for business for them to tell you to keep buying more every 3 months.

 

[moneygetter1]

It's true that some of the surface area will eventually be lost in these highly porous medias, but I suspect that this is due primarily to the accumulation of sediment, rather than other factors. Nonetheless, you would expect to see some loss in sa over time. Most of us will remove at least superficial debris by rinsing the media with tank water each time we perform filter maintenance, but this topical rinsing probably does relatively little to deep clean the pores. Usually, the amount of biomedia employed is sufficiently robust to compensate for this dimunition in sa. For example, four years ago I set up my canister filters with Ehfisubstrat Pro. The fish have gotten larger and the volumes of food consumed have also increased...so more nitrogenous waste is being released. Yet, four years later, there has been no indication that the biologic media is failing to assimilate this waste....AND I have never changed or supplemented the media. The other thing to keep in mind is that if you elect to discard and replace say 1/3 of the media to replace "lost surface area", you are also throwing out 1/3 of your bacteria. So, there is a cost associated with this maneuver...not to mention the cost of the media, which can be substantial. My recommendation is that you simply rinse the media with tank water and forget about it, until such time that you see that it is no longer sufficient to handle your bioload.

I agree. I've never disguarded my 'bio'. As with brianp , my fish have also gotten bigger , but my solution was to increase the amount of 'bio media' to keep pace w/ the increased waste produced. When cleaning, I usually do half one month & half the next in order not to disturb the entire colony all at once. The only way I would disguard the 'bio' is if it somehow got contaminated. Then I would toss it all, clean thoroughly & start over from scratch. Mfgrs. want you to continue to purchase 'bio media' so they recommend this '90 day' swap. IMPO it's not mandatory. As always this is JMPO. "T"

 

[ewurm]

My solution for this biomedia problem is use enough biomedia and filters that Shamu couldn't produce an Ammonia or Nitrite reading in a 20 gallon tank if you could pack that stupid whale in there.

 

[sp33dstix]

Why are you supposed to place biomax every 3 months? I understand that the chemicals in carbon get exhausted and need replacement, but as far as i understand the biomax is just a porous surface that allows beneficial bacteria to grow. if this is the case, why would it ever need replacement? are they just saying this to sell more product?

No point in replacing it, just rinse it periodically with TANK WATER ONLY!!!!
IT shouldnt get to dirty tho as the sponge should trap all of the particles.
We had biomax in our fluval (LFS I worked at) for the 2 years I worked there with no problems.. Im guessing it was in there way longer then I was.
So IMO its a sales gimmic. Look at how much more the biomax costs then the carbon or the ammo rid...Fluval makes a killing off of their filter media. And yea, throwing away your biomax and replacing it with a new one kills much of your needed BB.. so I wouldn't throw it away.