How long until filter pads add to Nitrates?

[DrBoxedWine]

I have a 75g tank with a 30g sump. It feeds down into a filter pad and then into the rest of the sump. The filter pad isn't huge, maybe 4"x6". I just buy them in bulk and cut like 10 at a time (which takes 5 mins at most), so it's not a HUGE deal to keep switching them out, but i'm wondering if anyone has any insight into how often they really need to be changed? After 2 days, it's pretty dirty. But if the detritus takes longer to break down, then a dirty pad isn't a huge deal.

I could do some experimenting and keep everything the same while monitoring nitrates and seeing if keeping it in longer affects anything, but this would be a pain right now. I just set the tank up in August, am still adding fish, and don't have everything down well enough to really hold everything else constant. So i'm hoping someone out there maybe has some insight here?

 

[rdrbssr11]

This is something that will vary from one tank to another depending on bioload and whatnot. The general consensus seems to be from a couple days to up to a week. Try doing it what you would prefer and see if your numbers stay stable but if not start changing them out more frequently.

 

[mcozad829]

The recommendations I have heard for filter socks (which should be the same for pads) says that the effectiveness of them decreases with time. IE changed daily they are very effective, changed every 3 days somewhat effective, changed weekly a little effective, longer than a week- not very effective. Here is the video I got this information from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWgUCCzwwu0

 

[Mark9]

The filter pad isn't huge, maybe 4"x6". I just buy them in bulk and cut like 10 at a time (which takes 5 mins at most), so it's not a HUGE deal to keep switching them out, but i'm wondering if anyone has any insight into how often they really need to be changed?

I do exactly the same thing and change it out every 4 or 5 days or so.
Any longer and it starts to get nasty.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Very intersting. Thanks everyone! That BRS video is pretty much exactly what i was looking for. I'll just start doing it every 3-4 days when i shut the return off for coral feeding.