Any way to avoid the spike when changing filters?
- Thread starter ShannyG
- Start date
This is one reason why reefs rely on live rock and don't use filters---occasionally a filter sock, more often with some of the fussier corals, but in generally, the up and down of nutrients is hard on the inhabitants of a marine tank. Ammonia itself is lethal, in small amounts, and very quickly. You can help moderate the spike by using something like Amquel if you accidentally loosed really bad stuff; but having enough live rock helps...ie, creating a FOWLR tank, [fish-only, with live rock] --helps moderate the ups and downs; and having a filter where you don't really change media, just wash it out, is another help: we use a serial filter Marineland monster the size of a medium wastebasket in our freshwater tank, and its media is permanent, just washable. Seems to do quite well, and I'd think it would be good for marine use, if the pump assembly can stand the saltwater. Not an expert in FOWLRs---haven't run one since the 80's. But you can moderate the spike by giving the filter as much help as possible.
Pomacanthus1
Premium Member
Are you upgrading or replacing equipment? Otherwise there is no reason for you to be changing your bio-media that I can understand. 
Are you upgrading or replacing equipment? Otherwise there is no reason for you to be changing your bio-media that I can understand.
I have a 5 gallon pico tank. I run two 10 gallon Tetra filters in it for circulation and filtration. I don't change my filter media often but the one finally got so gunky it really wasn't allowing water through it.
I rinse them daily in SW and they last a long time, but aren't meant to last forever. I wasn't sure if there was a product I could soak them in that might encourage bacteria growth in a fresh filter.
Thanks Sk8r, I have exactly 5 lbs of live rock. The 'spike' I refer to is pretty mild, mostly due to my OCD and lots of tiny water changes throughout the day. At its worst post filter media change my levels were:
.25 ppm ammonia
.25 ppm nitrite
10ppm nitrate
I just like everthing to read 0 all the time. I changed that filter Saturday and I suspect by tomorrow things will be back to normal. So I've had 3 days of less than optimal levels.
If I ever get into a bigger tank it's going to feel like a cakewalk compared to this little guy...
.25 ppm ammonia
.25 ppm nitrite
10ppm nitrate
I just like everthing to read 0 all the time. I changed that filter Saturday and I suspect by tomorrow things will be back to normal. So I've had 3 days of less than optimal levels.
If I ever get into a bigger tank it's going to feel like a cakewalk compared to this little guy...
wooden_reefer
New member
Cycle some medium separately.
Change old filter medium and add the newly cycled medium.
Slowly withdraw the new medium a little at a time.
Change old filter medium and add the newly cycled medium.
Slowly withdraw the new medium a little at a time.
That's a really excellent suggestion, thanks.
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