Ok I have 4 tanks two minibow tanks one is a 5g cycled and the other is a 2.5g still cycling the other two are a corner bow 36g cycled tank and an eclipse 3g cycled. My questions are both minibows have a whisper filter which I was told by LFS had to be changed every month including the carbon. I believe the media is a sponge filter. My 36g corner has a filter that already contains carbon the eclipse 3g is the same a filter that already contains carbon I also have a biowheel in that tank. My questions are for the whisper filters is it really necessary to replace the sponge filter and the carbon monthly or can I just rinse the media in tank water and add the carbon also how to get the old carbon out rinse it in the old tank water? I only have a betta in the 3g the filter does not look that dirty today is a month since I changed that filter I am going to do a water change but can I go 8 weeks with a filter that already contains the carbon or do I have to replace it monthly? I was replacing the filter monthly but the filter really didn't look dirty. My 36g just cycled about 2 weeks ago so I wanted to wait atleast another 2 weeks before I change the water and filter I haven't touched the filter at all the last water change was about 2 weeks ago when the water finally went from nitrites to nitrates and I haven't changed the water since the parameter have been fine since then. My 2.5g has the whisper filter as well but since it is still cycling I am not changing the filter until it is well cycled and established there is a betta in that tank now. Any help would be appreciated.:huh:
