Replacing filter floss
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DesertReefT4r
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2 times a week is good. The goal is to remove the waste trapped before it breaks down. People that dont change their filter floss or socks until they plug up tend to have higher nutrients. If cleaned often its a good method of nutrient removeal. Same goes with any filter sponges in the system.
malacoda
Valuable Member
Depends on the maturity and performance of your biological filtration (live rock, sand, bio-balls, etc.) combined with your bio-load and how heavily you feed your tank. Best bet is to change it every 2-3 days as a starting point, and then dial in the frequency for your particular tank.
Watch the floss chamber to ensure the water level doesn't 'back up' at all from floss blockage, and measure your NO3 and PO4 regularly (at least once if not twice a week) to see how low and stable they are over a period of several weeks.
If they stay low and stable, try bumping your floss replacement out to once very 4-5 days, then monitor floss chamber and nutrients again for a few weeks, and so on until you find YOUR tank's nutrient capability level.
For example, my 24g only needs the floss changed out once a week. In a pinch - e.g. if I'm traveling - it can even go for two weeks. But if I use a 2-week schedule all time, I start to notice slightly quicker film algae growth on the glass and slight rise in nitrates.
So, because of its particular setup, biofilter, and bioload, 1 week is the 'sweet' spot for that particular tank. If I change it more frequently, I'd be wasting $ on floss unnecessarily. Less frequently and I'd start to see nutrient levels rise.
In a nutshell, start with a 2-3 change out schedule, then gradually extended it to find the 'sweet spot' for your particular set up.
Watch the floss chamber to ensure the water level doesn't 'back up' at all from floss blockage, and measure your NO3 and PO4 regularly (at least once if not twice a week) to see how low and stable they are over a period of several weeks.
If they stay low and stable, try bumping your floss replacement out to once very 4-5 days, then monitor floss chamber and nutrients again for a few weeks, and so on until you find YOUR tank's nutrient capability level.
For example, my 24g only needs the floss changed out once a week. In a pinch - e.g. if I'm traveling - it can even go for two weeks. But if I use a 2-week schedule all time, I start to notice slightly quicker film algae growth on the glass and slight rise in nitrates.
So, because of its particular setup, biofilter, and bioload, 1 week is the 'sweet' spot for that particular tank. If I change it more frequently, I'd be wasting $ on floss unnecessarily. Less frequently and I'd start to see nutrient levels rise.
In a nutshell, start with a 2-3 change out schedule, then gradually extended it to find the 'sweet spot' for your particular set up.
what does p04 stand for?
I've had my filter floss in since June 27th, which sounds like it's been too long, but all of my parameters are fine. Should I replace it anyways?
and wouldn't replacing it get rid of all the good beneficial bacteria, and be detrimental to the ecosystem?
malacoda
Valuable Member
PO4 = phosphates
Replacing your filter floss won't have any affect on the good bacteria. They inhabit most every surface in the tank from the live rock to the glass to plumbing walls and sump/back chambers. The portion that will get 'evicted' when the floss is changed is such a tiny portion of the population that it won't have any real impact.
A month is pretty long time to go without changing floss. Sounds like your tank is pretty new and still in the very initial 'clean stage'.
And in that pic above the floss does still looks pretty 'clean' IMHO...
...so what I'm about to say will probably freak most people out: I wouldn't worry about changing it yet.
If it were me I would test nitrate and phosphate often - at least twice a week, and watch the glass and live rock. The moment the nutrients start to rise, film algae starts to form on the rock, or you have to clean your glass every 2 or 3 days instead of once or twice a week, change the floss and switch to a 2 or 3 day replacement schedule. It means the base-level life in your tank has finally had a chance to take hold.
At that point most new tanks usually go through the 'uglies' stage: algae cycles and nutrient fluctuations as the tank ecosystem works to mature and balance itself out (usually a 4-8 month period). Testing nutrients will tell you for sure, but don't be surprised if you'll have to stick to the 2-3 times a week floss change schedule during this stage.
Once the tank is mature and stabilizes - e.g. your nutrients are low and rock-solid stable - you can start to bump the schedule out until you find its floss-changing 'sweet spot'.
The key is to test regularly and let your nutrient levels guide you. Adopting a change it every 2 days approach and just sticking with it forever because that's way you did it on day 1 ... or because that is what someone else did and had success with it ... doesn't mean it's the best practice for you particula tank.
Stripping your tank of organics and nutrients too much can starve corals, diminish micro-diversity, and cause algae, cyano, or bryopsis issues just as easily as letting your nutrients get to high.
Watch your tank. Let your testing results and it's physical appearance be your guide.
Replacing your filter floss won't have any affect on the good bacteria. They inhabit most every surface in the tank from the live rock to the glass to plumbing walls and sump/back chambers. The portion that will get 'evicted' when the floss is changed is such a tiny portion of the population that it won't have any real impact.
A month is pretty long time to go without changing floss. Sounds like your tank is pretty new and still in the very initial 'clean stage'.
And in that pic above the floss does still looks pretty 'clean' IMHO...
...so what I'm about to say will probably freak most people out: I wouldn't worry about changing it yet.
If it were me I would test nitrate and phosphate often - at least twice a week, and watch the glass and live rock. The moment the nutrients start to rise, film algae starts to form on the rock, or you have to clean your glass every 2 or 3 days instead of once or twice a week, change the floss and switch to a 2 or 3 day replacement schedule. It means the base-level life in your tank has finally had a chance to take hold.
At that point most new tanks usually go through the 'uglies' stage: algae cycles and nutrient fluctuations as the tank ecosystem works to mature and balance itself out (usually a 4-8 month period). Testing nutrients will tell you for sure, but don't be surprised if you'll have to stick to the 2-3 times a week floss change schedule during this stage.
Once the tank is mature and stabilizes - e.g. your nutrients are low and rock-solid stable - you can start to bump the schedule out until you find its floss-changing 'sweet spot'.
The key is to test regularly and let your nutrient levels guide you. Adopting a change it every 2 days approach and just sticking with it forever because that's way you did it on day 1 ... or because that is what someone else did and had success with it ... doesn't mean it's the best practice for you particula tank.
Stripping your tank of organics and nutrients too much can starve corals, diminish micro-diversity, and cause algae, cyano, or bryopsis issues just as easily as letting your nutrients get to high.
Watch your tank. Let your testing results and it's physical appearance be your guide.
I did have an ugly phase, but after adding the clean up crew, they took care of most of it.
And it may be hard to tell at the onset of algae, with my CUC.
I will need to get a p04 test kit.
Would it hurt to change it now anyways? And it seems cumbersome to change it every few days...
And it may be hard to tell at the onset of algae, with my CUC.
I will need to get a p04 test kit.
Would it hurt to change it now anyways? And it seems cumbersome to change it every few days...
