Can I add more/replace biological filter media?

[Reefing_addiction]

Can I add more?

Can I replace the old?
Or
Should I just add more?

Will it cause my tank to cycle?

P.s. I have a 16g biocube
One nem, two clown, one mandarin, two cleaner shrimp, 2 snails, 1 Zoa, 1 hammer, 1 pulsing (crap I forgot it’s name), 1 duster

 

[Mikedawg]

Can I add more?

Can I replace the old?
Or
Should I just add more?

Will it cause my tank to cycle?

P.s. I have a 16g biocube
One nem, two clown, one mandarin, two cleaner shrimp, 2 snails, 1 Zoa, 1 hammer, 1 pulsing (crap I forgot it’s name), 1 duster

Sure you can add more to an established tank if you are just "topping" off the established media - assume you are talking about something like Seachem's Matrix. If you replace it all, then you may trigger a new cycle.

Pulsing "xenia" maybe.

 

[Dan_P]

If the medium is your only biological filter, be very careful about replacing it. New medium will take some time to become established and start to work.

Do you have a problem that is making you think about replacing the medium?

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Sure you can add more to an established tank if you are just "topping" off the established media - assume you are talking about something like Seachem's Matrix. If you replace it all, then you may trigger a new cycle.

Pulsing "xenia" maybe.

Yes pulsing Xenia

 

[Reefing_addiction]

If the medium is your only biological filter, be very careful about replacing it. New medium will take some time to become established and start to work.

Do you have a problem that is making you think about replacing the medium?

I’m starting to wonder if there is enough of it

 

[Dan_P]

I’m starting to wonder if there is enough of it

Adding more might be OK. Somebody must know for sure whether adding more is a low risk change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m starting to wonder if there is enough of it

Why? Can you measure ammonia?

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Why? Can you measure ammonia?

No.
Here is my latest read from an LFS

I see other small tank builds and it seems they have more biological media than i

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is rare to not have enough biomedia, even if you have none. Ammonia does not typically get elevated in reef tanks with live rock and/or sand.