changing filter media?

[rusty-nail-z]

Hi i just changed the carbon out of my HOB power filter for the first time today. It was running for 4 weeks. Ive read lots of stuff about keeping beneficial bacteria in changing the filter. So i pretty much kept the sponge, dumped and rinsed out the carbon (in old tank water) and threw in new pre-measured carbon. Is this okay? Is this what you should do to keep the good bacteria? The sponge is pretty brown and grungy, but I didnt want to risk losing good bacteria by putting in a brand new sponge with the new carbon. Any help is greatly appreciated.

BTW Ive had fish since the first week, typical newb ...

[FishyFry]

You did just fine!

[Weezer]

Sound's good, you could've rinsed the media in some tank water to get off the big chunk's,that work's also....


:hi:

[Mgamer20o0]

just clean the sponge good with tank water. yes your tossing bacteria out when you add the new carbon but if you want that carbon you have to do it.

[skillful abbot]

beneficial bacteria also lives on the sponge on your intake as well as in the tank. I was worrying about HOBs as well and reader here suggested having two. So now I have two HOB on my tank

[kw0me]

On my old tank i used to run a sponge on the intake of my hob to add that extra bit of bio for media changes.