Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:34 pm
You're missing one of the two most important media--the ceramic rings and/or stars for biofiltration.
For the pads, if you're referring to the ppi30 and ppi20 pads that are used for mechanical filtration (bottom basket), they'll last a lot longer than 6 months--I'm using the original ones that came with the filter that I bought and set up in Feb. 2004. (I did buy extras, but they're still in the box.)
If you get ceramic rings with the filter but you want to increase the biomedia (one package per 75 gallons of water, if I remember correctly), I'd get another box of them--if you get a bigger tank, they'll come in handy. (I'm using 1.5 packages of the rings and also have the stars waiting to be used).
Is there anything particularly wrong with your water? I'd forget the bio-chem zorb. I still have the package that came with the filter. I am using the activated carbon, however. It's cheaper than the chem zorb and for turtles works fine.
For the microfiltration pad, I used the one that came with the filter. Then I used that one as a template and bought generic rolls of floss and cut squares the same size as the original micro pad. I have just started not using any microfiltration pad at all and the water looks as good as before. I found that the filter would become clogged more quickly with a microfiltration pad (a complaint that I've read other users have voiced).
The most important media are the bio-media and mechanical media. Some turtle keepers use only these two, and once the beneficial media have colonized and tank care is kept up, they, in most cases, are all that's necessary.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
