New Filter

[Trubador]

I have a nicely cycled 2.5 gallon minibow aquarium with a Whisper 10i internal power filter.

I run the filter on it's lowest speed and I'll be changing the internal filter within the next month I am sure. From what I've read, the majority of the bacteria that are keeping the water safe for my Betta live within this filter I am about to remove and replace with another. How do I perform this filter change and at the same time keep my tank cycled and fish happy?

[Lupin]

Just place the old filter media to the new filter.

[Trubador]

Just place the old filter media to the new filter.

I don't understand? I have to change the filter media (activated carbon) every few months, at least that's what the directions say. At the fish store, they have lots of these inexpensive filter replacement bags made for this purpose. Maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean by "media"?

[Lupin]

I don't understand? I have to change the filter media (activated carbon) every few months, at least that's what the directions say. At the fish store, they have lots of these inexpensive filter replacement bags made for this purpose. Maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean by "media"?
Are you telling me the only filter media you have is carbon?:jaw: That is not necessary! Yes, they are replaceable for four weeks at most. What you need are those sponges, filter floss, ceramics, and other media available, not carbon itself.

[Trubador]

Are you telling me the only filter media you have is carbon?:jaw: That is not necessary! Yes, they are replaceable for four weeks at most. What you need are those sponges, filter floss, ceramics, and other media available, not carbon itself.


I have what comes with the Minibow aquarium which is a Tetra Whisper 10i Internal power filter. It says it is a three stage filter, chemical, biological and mechanical. But that I have to replace the carbon filter bag every month. It's been two months for me with the carbon bag and it's still working fine, but I will be replacing this coming month. I have a perfectly cycled tank, no ammonia, no nitrite and it takes close to two weeks for nitrate to build up to 20 ppm.

Is anyone familiar with this power filter and what part of it is the biological filter? I am leery to replace the carbon if that removes all of the bacteria. Maybe there is some other internal sponge or something that acts as the biological filter? Anyone?

[Draal5]

I have that filter in with a sponge filter in a 10 gallon fry tank you can safely remove and change the bio-bag. They are meant to be changed more often than you are doing, but if you only have a beta you will be fine.

[yourchoice]

Media is what`s inside the filter.Could be sponge ,floss,carbon or other types of rocks.The bacteria for biological filter can be anywhere,Gravel,wood,plants ,filter or glass.If you feel a film on the glass the bacteria is well establish with just a betta you can just change the cartridge.You can cut the cartridge put the old carbon in a nylon stocking and put it in there but that will be for biological support only.The carbon if it is good quality might be effective for 3-4 weeks after that it will lose ability to bind and clean the dirt particles.Most people just rinse it out the floss or sponge in tank water at water change and put it back in.

[Trubador]

Media is what`s inside the filter.Could be sponge ,floss,carbon or other types of rocks.The bacteria for biological filter can be anywhere,Gravel,wood,plants ,filter or glass.If you feel a film on the glass the bacteria is well establish with just a betta you can just change the cartridge.You can cut the cartridge put the old carbon in a nylon stocking and put it in there but that will be for biological support only.The carbon if it is good quality might be effective for 3-4 weeks after that it will lose ability to bind and clean the dirt particles.Most people just rinse it out the floss or sponge in tank water at water change and put it back in.

so if I understand you correctly, If I simply replace the "bio-bag" cartridge within the Power filter, the tank will remain cycled? Or do i HAVE to hang the old bio-bag in the tank for a few days while the new bag is being "broken-in" within the power filter?

[williedee]

if i am correct, your whisper 10i has a black sponge that never gets replaced (just like my whisper 10 HOB) the sponge is where most of the bacteria lives, so yes the tank will remain cycled with a new bio-bag.

[cheizy]

When doing the change, feed sparingly for a week as the bacteria count will be lower than usual. You should be fine with just one betta, water quality won't shift too much when changing your filters, since you still have some bacteria on substrate and glass(minimal). A 2.5 never really reaches constant cycle anyways, since the tank is so small, mini-cycles though. You should be fine, Good luck!

[J double R]

When doing the change, feed sparingly for a week as the bacteria count will be lower than usual. You should be fine with just one betta, water quality won't shift too much when changing your filters, since you still have some bacteria on substrate and glass(minimal). A 2.5 never really reaches constant cycle anyways, since the tank is so small, mini-cycles though. You should be fine, Good luck!

I don't see how this is true.

nonetheless, you should be able to rinse and reuse the same filter media for a LONG time.. especially with something that has as low of a bioload as a betta. there shouldnt be much waste in the filter media at all, especially if the tank is properly maintained.

[Trubador]

I don't see how this is true.

nonetheless, you should be able to rinse and reuse the same filter media for a LONG time.. especially with something that has as low of a bioload as a betta. there shouldnt be much waste in the filter media at all, especially if the tank is properly maintained.

Well, here's what I did last night. The Bio bag I bought has the bag itself (which is a fine mesh), an internal plastic rectangle the same size as the bag and a little bit of activated carbon.

So, I took out the piece of plastic from the used biobag and put it in the new bio bag. There must be some bacteria on the piece of plastic and this way I have transferred it to the new bag.

I'll just test for ammonia, nitrite daily for a while to see if there are any spikes and do a water change if there is.

Who knows, maybe the bacteria on the plastic as well as the gravel will be enough.

[J double R]

it will help, but you will still get a small spike.

I use biobags on my 20G, and they usually last me around 6 months each. I'm still on the same big pack of filter bags that i bought 4 years ago with the filter. ;)

[Trubador]

it will help, but you will still get a small spike.

I use biobags on my 20G, and they usually last me around 6 months each. I'm still on the same big pack of filter bags that i bought 4 years ago with the filter. ;)

Does your bag start to turn dark colored? Mine was noticibly darker, even black in some spots, than the new bag.

[J double R]

yeah, but color doesnt matter, only structural integrity and flow matter.

if it's clogged, rinse it.
if it's falling apart, change it. other than that, leave it alone.

mine's been black for the last 4 months. ;)

[Trubador]

yeah, but color doesnt matter, only structural integrity and flow matter.

if it's clogged, rinse it.
if it's falling apart, change it. other than that, leave it alone.

mine's been black for the last 4 months. ;)

sounds reasonable to me. I was half thinking that when I changed it last night, but erred on the side of caution. There really isn't that much carbon included in those bags either. I'll bet the carbon really doesn't do much at all anyway.

Is there any other filter mechanism with these other than the foam bag itself? I am really wondering what good this whole thing does at all besides biological filtration.