Filter knowledge needed!

[justjes45]

I have a Nuvo 30 tank.
The filtration is in the back of the tank. They were in the small, stock inserts, but I've upgraded to a plastic box that fits the exact size of the hole in the back.
The picture shows how I have my fill Traciann stages layered. This seems to be working pretty well. My concern is this –
The guy at my LFS, told me the carbon was the only thing I would have to switch out every so often. The rest of the sponges ect, and the one tiny sack of white beads would be fine until they started to deteriorate.
Is this true? I do clean them every time I do a water change, but I would think at some point that would need to be freshened up?

 

[nervousmonkey]

What are the white beads? Looks like Purigen. Great stuff, but it won't deteriorate, it'll turn dark brown, then it's done. You *can* recycle it with bleach, but I think it's just easier to get a new bag. As far as the sponges go, you are right to clean them evey WC. They'll fill with detritus and junk and turn into a nitrate and phosphate (to a lesser extent) factory. So keep them clean.
Your carbon will have to be changed regularly. What are the pads on top? Look like polyfilter pads to me. Those things are good, but don't last long. They exist basically to tell you if you have anything bad in your water and to remove some of it, but those things, if they are polyfilter pads, need to be replaced pretty often actually. The color will tell you what they are absorbing, but you need the bag they came in to tell you that...

 

[justjes45]

It took me a minute to get back to you, because I had to find the extra pad I have. I'm glad I did!
It is a phosphate remover pad that you cut to fit in your filter.
The guy who sold it to me said I would just about never have to change it and this pack should last me forever. And thanks to you I pulled it out and I actually read the packaging – go figure.
On the back it says replace every 4 to 6 weeks.
So I will do this as soon as I press "send" thank you very much!