Equipment Review and Discussion :: foam inserts for fluval filter 105

[kitkatl3ar]

If you have a fluval canister filter, how often do you change the foam inserts? The manual has time frames for changing the other media, but not the foam. I have just been alternating them whenever they look like they need changing. But I am going out of the country soon and my family is taking care of my turtles while I'm gone. I want to give them a better idea of when to change the foam inserts. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Bascomb]

I have a 405 and I replace them every time I clean out the filter every 3 months. I have a tendency to over do it a little. If you can clean the old ones out and change them out, when you do your cleaning. My filtering system does very well and I could wait longer. I do 50 percent water changes every week.

[kitkatl3ar]

Thanks Bascomb!

[BullDog]

I've got a 404, it's been up and running for about a year and a half, and it was used to start with, and I've never changed the foam...
I just give it a good rinse out every time I do the filter. As long as you don't mind squeezing turtle poo out of a sponge, I figured they can last a long time. They're in the same shape as new, but they've been stained yellowish.

[Cramer]

When you say "change" do you mean replace with new ones or clean them???

You shouldn't ever have to replace them...There's no point to which I can't clean them and the brown tint is a coat of benefitial bacteria and organic stain. If yours gets so clogged with goo that you have to clean it more than every two months, then you either need a bigger filter or put polypadding in the first basket to replace monthly.

[Bascomb]

Cram -- Like I said I have a tendency to over do it. The last set was rinsed off and put out to dry. The filter sponge was in surprisingly good shape. They will be ready for the next change out.