Fishboy1988 2 Report post Posted August 1 Hi. I need to change my filter pads in my Aqua One Aquis 1200 filter. The person I inherited the tank off was using cotton wool but I have don’t think this is the best thing to use so I have bought some Tankmaid pads that I would like to swap in. What is best practice for doing this? I’ve had a lot of conflicting information and would like to avoid crashing my cycle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nomad fish 3 Report post Posted August 2 What's your tank like? If it's planted you should be fine to swap term, but maybe squeeze one in the tank to make sure Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishboy1988 2 Report post Posted August 2 Ok right. I’ve heard you need to soak the new one a bit so it gets the bacteria in it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nomad fish 3 Report post Posted August 2 its all about keeping the beneficial bacteria going in the tank if there is enough other places in the tank for them to live they will quickly recolonize the media, thats why squeezing it on in the tank helps, the new media filters all that water with the BB in it, but if the tank is bare there is no where else for the BB to live great idea to pop it in the tank for a bit before switching Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Caryl 223 Report post Posted August 2 Depending on how many layers of cotton wool you are replacing, swap them one at a time with a couple of weeks in between to give time for the bacteria to grow. Putting them in the tank for a week or two before swapping them out in the filter also works. 1 1 Fishboy1988 and nomad fish reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishboy1988 2 Report post Posted August 2 Thanks a lot both! 1 nomad fish reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maxxi1 87 Report post Posted Thursday at 06:50 AM rule of thumb is no more then a third total filter media at once. As Caryl said, if you change it / them over a few weeks it should be okay Are you sure its cotton wool and not the white filter sponge, which you may be able to clean in some old tank water and put back in and then replace when it starts to impact your filters flow 1 nomad fish reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites