When I do my weekly water change I replace the filter wool in my externals. Innevitably, when I turn the filter back on, a massive amount of crap is launched into the tank. Is this normal, what is it, and should I be doing something to prevent this?
weekly, you shouldnt need to change it weekly unless your VERY overstocked.
The muck will be coming from either left residue in the filter box, pump head or (most probably) the pipework.
Buy yourself a set of pipe cleaners, 2 that i have had are a hagen one (single ended 550mm long) and an Aquaone double ended one (2 diff size brushes) 1metre long.
I didn't know you could buy such things - thanks One tank is a little overstock, the other definitely not. Probably the wool would only need changing every other week but I change it weekly just to be good; bizarrely I find it's on the "definitely not" tank that it gets the dirtiest - I attribute this to it being the smallest tank and the only one that contains a bristlenose...
Hi i'll second what Richy has already said
Give the pipes a good clean and that should sort it?
Also weekly cleaning sounds rather too frequent to me? My externals only get done every three months or so?
just done a quick net search and found info for you INFO
I have 2 unopened sets of the 1metre double ended ones if your interested. Only one available though as i'll need one myself lol £3.50 inc del if interested
I don't clean the whole filter - frankly, that hasn't needed sorting yet. But the filter wool, which comprises the final stage of the filter, needs changing frequently. I don't believe this is out of the ordinary...
And yes, Richy that would be great! I'll pm you with my details...
maybe not out of the ordinary but weekly is "too frequent" really, thats the whole point of an external. I will say though, if left too long then nitrAtes will probably rise quicker depending on stocking levels.
Ok, I'm a bit confused here - we all know what I mean by the wool don't we!? I'm going to be quite shocked if I find out I'm doing something here wrong... although it's crossed my mind sometimes I might be packing too much of the stuff in! Crikey, you lot are making me paranoid...
the white wool at the top of your filter for polishing the water - I change it once a month maybe? but I do wash ii out every week in tank water.
1xTrigon 190 3 Clown Loaches,14 Cardinal Tetras,8 Rummynose Tetras,6 Cory Trileneatus,6 Hatchetfish,4 otocinclus,1 SAE,1 Bristlenose,, 10 amano Shrimp, 1 pair Apisto Agazzizi. 3 Blue Discus Anubius Barteri,Crinum thianum,Limnophilia sessiflora,Rotala rotundifolia, Echinodorus Blehri, Ech. Parviflorus,Ech. cordifolius, Ech. Tenellus, nymphaea lotus, Hygrophilia polysperma, Microsorum pteropus,Lilaeopsis brasiliensis 1xRekord 60 Blue Lobster, Flash plec 2 Anubias Barteri, 1 Microsorum pteropus 12 litre tank - 3 Glass shrimp, 4 japonica shrimp 1 Anubias Barteri, Riccia, Eleocharis acicularis Coming Soon - Bluedave's 5' Bullnose Marine Divider (Watch this space!)
Everyone has different setups, stocking levels and filters size for their tanks. There is NO, do this or that as you have to try and judge yourself.
The longer you leave the floss in then yes, you'll probably get higher nitrAtes and lower water clarity. I have Bamboo fan shrimps in mine so I don't want it "crystal clear water" as they need food from the water column. Different setups cater for different needs.
You can change/clean the wool every week if you want but it's not always necassary.
Sorry if I've confused you more lol