Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings,

I've notice allot of questions about filters lately and I've been reading about nitrates, ammonia and bacteria. So, now I'll throw out my question...

First a little history...The filter I have is a two part filter, one charcoal bag and one foam filter. My water is clear and smells OK, however there are a few floaty things in the water, no big deal. I change the water about once a month.

However, I have not changed the filters, either one. So, when should I change them and should I change them both at the same time?

-Ravon

I would definitely change my filter medium more often. With rinsing, I only need to change my foam about every two weeks, and I change my carbon at the same time. Keeping everything on the same schedule makes it easier. Also, some people think I'm a bit obsessive, but I do partial water changes every three or four days. I like to stir up my gravel first because waste builds up in there, and even though the water seems clean, there's still a lot of junk in it. Every month I drain out all of the water and start fresh. I'm a firm believer that the absolute best thing you can do for your sliders is give them high quality water.
I hope this helps you and good luck.

You can change everything at the same time, you don't have any bio material in your filter, so your tank doesn't cycle and you won't be disturbing anything.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

You don't even really need the carbon. It's used when keeping fish to filter out chemicals and stuff. ur filter space would prabably be better spent with another sponge to catch more particualte matter, carbon is what's called chemical filter media, and sponges are both mechanical (actually takes out visable stuff) and a biological filter. Bacteria grow on the spong which help eat up ammonia and nitrites (results of poop).
and i would deffinatly change your water more frequently. They can get fungal infections and stuff from dirty water.
I try to drain my tank (almost) once a week