How often shoiuld the media and filters be changed in my two Fulval 405's? I have a 150 gallon tank with 20 medium to large African Cichlids in it.

Changed or cleaned? I clean mine about once a month, but in almost 2 years, I've never changed out any media. I guess it would depend on what media you have in there.

x2. Cleaned 1xmonth. And changed out only when absolutely necessary.

Bio Media = Never
Mechnical media = becomes too clogged to clean, or begins to fall apart
Chemical Media = as recommended.

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100 Dirt + Stuff. To be Angel baby tank.
37 Planted. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f45/pla...nal-20774.html
29 Tall community tank. 5+ Years up and running.
15 Soon to be RCS tank.

I clean mine every 8 weeks

Ceramic rings - They stay in there, though every now and then to start a new filter i may take a tray out and replace with new.

Sponges - Rinse every 8 weeks, Replace only when rinsing doesnt clean em up or they start to disintergrate.

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1x350L Goldfish, 1x 286L Planted, 1x190L Cherry shrimp, 1x140L Feeders, 1x130L Planted, 1x119L Peppermint BN breeding colony

This unit doesn't use the Fluval polishing pads, does it?

It doesn't have to.

Is that the only filter you have on a 150 gallon tank?

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Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine)

Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

If you use the carbon package that comes with them you need to change those regularly. If you don't at some point they will release the bad stuff that they took out of the tank back in it. I changed my ceramics ring once in almost two years...but I've read that many people don't. As for the white pad foam you're supposed to change it when it comes a part...which will take a long time. Don't forget, when you change your media do not change them all at the same time! If you do , you'd lose too much of them and cause problem in your cycle.

The media I have is carbon bags, ceramic rings and the sponge filters. I've just added poly fill to the bottom of the carbon holders hoping it would catch the small particulates. I have two 405's running plus a 1000 & a 700 Ovation submersible filter also running.