When should i change my filter cartidges?

[blackwolfXKAV]

I have the following filter:http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444180 8569&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030059&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1162908866706&itemNo=10&In=Fish&N=2030059&Ne=2

It is a Marineland Penguin Biowheel Filter, model 150
on the first ten gallon tank in my sig. (yes i know)

it holds two "B" cartidges. it has been in place for about the time it takes for a cartridge to be replaced....o heck it seems like it....i am looking for an official date..At least TWO WEEKS

It holds two of these cartidges. My question is, How should i go about replacing them?

[blackwolfXKAV]

anyone? please help me..... :shark:

[Chickieepooh2u]

Personally I replace my filter pad/cartridge every few months. I rinse it out in treated water every couple weeks. That way I don't send my tank into a mini-cycle, and I keep the bacteria as long as I can. I've had less problems doing it that way than when I was replacing when it said to on the box. (remember the manufacturers are out to sell product, they want you to go through them fast)

[blackwolfXKAV]

hmmmn, anyone want to back this up, it sounds like a real good idea..
if not, should i change 1 or 2 cartidges (remember, its got two in now)?

Thanks all, Thomas.

[H3D]

I clean my filter cartridges every 7 days and replace after 30 days.

[hmilstead]

I have Penguin Bio wheels on both my 10 and 55 gallon. When I switched to these filters, it has 2 slots for 2 cartridges. I use both slots and clean each cartridge at each water change and change one cartridge in each filter every two weeks alternating so a single cartridge lasts a month but I am not changing both cartridges in the same filter at the same time.

[wataugachicken]

clean them in old tank water when they need cleaning, change them when they start to fall apart. if you have a biowheel you really don't need to worry about losing your bacteria by throwing the pads away. the wheel is an ideal environment so almost all of the bacteria lives there. don't go by what the manufacturer recommends, the filter pads are too expensive for that.

[fishy_sue]

I have run a bio wheel for three years and rinse the pad each water change in treated water and go about 2 - 3 months between new ones.

[kmgriff72]

Just don't replace both pads at once, alternate them. I would not change them until they are falling apart and just rinse them in old tank water.

[blackwolfXKAV]

so, thanks all for the tremendous response.
it looks like the verdict is to wash them in old tank water when i do a water change and replace them (one at a time) when they fall apart. Thank you all.

[icecubez189]

i have the same filter with two cartridges that has been running for 4-5 months about and honestly, i probably won't replace them for a while. i clean the filter pads once in a while to remove debris but thats about it.

[Marinemom]

Do as the others have said and just replace them when they fall apart completely. Also if you are using more then one pad when it does come time to change the pads do so one at a time with a few weeks in between. Some people run these filters with no media in them. That is just fine too because the bio-wheel holds most of the bacteria needed for the aquarium to thrive.

Marinemom