zeolite use

[cider]

hi eveyone,
suppose one uses a small bag of zeolite added to a filter when added a fish 6 mos ago, just to keep the amonia down, but never removed it , does it become a place for the good bacteria to grow, therefore one should not remove it now, or does nothing beneficial grow on zeolite?
Also, suppose one removed the small bag after 6mos,but then returned it back to the filter ...would that cause amonia spike ? I only recently read the zeolite is only good for a few weeks/mos, so what about the old bag , is anything good growing there,? would removing it again cause water probs again?
thanks for any info on these questions

[clint]

You may have some beneficial bacteria growing in that materiel. Best thing to do is replace half of the zeolite at a time this way any beneficial bacteria growing will not be killed off. Assuming any is growing there at all.

Best thing to do is add in some kind of ceramic noodle they make for the beneficial bacteria. Put those in instead and address the reasons why there is ammonia in your water to begin with.

[Diana]

After 6 months the zeolite is no longer removing ammonia from the water. It may have nitrifying bacteria growing on it. I would remove it and add more sponge or floss media. No harm in leaving it, though, as a home for bacteria.

If you have just a little in there you could remove it all, and probably have no problem because of the loss of that much bacteria. If you are worried about it, then remove it in 2-3 steps, a couple of weeks apart. There is a lot more bacteria in the tank and in the other filter media.

[cider]

thanks Clint and Diana,
I appreciate your quick answers. Thanks for explaining as i have not found much to read on the subject.