Nano Lagoon (12): Filter $$ Saver

Recycling the Nano Lagoon filter cartridge is simple and economical. Once a month, remove the blue filter cartridge from your Aquatech 5-15 filter box. Be sure to rescue any adhering amphipods by gently brushing them back into the aquarium. Next, rinse the carttridge thoroughly under a hose or strong faucet, making sure to blast away all of the detritus, slime and bacteria. Then set the filter aside for a few days to let it dry completly. Next, make an incision in the blue fibrous material near the top of the filter catridge using a razor, box cutter or scissors. Dump out all of the old carbon granuals and discard them. Replace these with one teaspoon full of new activated carbon granules from Aquatech (or equivalent product from another manufacturer). [The activated carbon costs about $6.00 per bottle at Wal-Mart, and will last a long time.] The recycled filter is now ready to reuse. Don't worry about losing the beneficial bacteria when you clean and dry out a filter cartridge. After a month or so of operation the Nano Lagoon is already filled with beneficial bacteria. They are in the water, in the sandbed, on the glass and in the rockwork. Some of these bacteria will quickly colonize the new or recycled filter pads as they are introduced every month. Please use only captive-bred organisms in your reef aquarium. To see more of our videos, click here: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ipsfdotcom&view=videos Learn more about economical reefkeeping at our website: http://www.ipsf.com