filter cartridges....rip off?

J

joeyarchibald

AC Members
Oct 10, 2005
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I have a 29g Eclipse that's been running successfully for coming up 3 years. Mu question is about the filter cartridges that you are supposed to change every couple of weeks. Is that really necessary? I heard you can just swish them around in dechlorinated water since they are just mechanical filtration. I heard the carbon only works for a little while anyway, and you only really need the carbon to remove meds, etc.
The reason I'm asking is those cartridges start adding up after awhile!
Thanks!
 
Your thoughts are correct. Dont worry about the carbon and just swish them in tank water from a water change. I wouldnt replace them untill they start to fall apart.
 
I replace mine whenever water starts flowing over them instead of thru them. Generally they last 2-3 months. You can rinse them out if you want to make them last longer but I have no problem chaning mine. The expense is not that great. I change my whisper filters every 3-4 weeks. You can find off-brand fitlers online a lot cheaper than the name brand ones you buy at your LFS.
 
I love those kinds of filters, all of my filters are those kinds of filters. I change mine every month, which is a little more often then it is really needed.
 
i haven't replaced my filter pads since i got my filter which was many many months ago. but i do remove the gunk that it collects and then pop them back in. polyester floss is also good for polishing the water.
 
I buy rolls of the blue-on-one-side/white-on-the-other filter material and in my Eclipse 6 have laid a piece cut to size. Everytime I change water I take out the piece of material and swish it in old aq water. In my 10-gallon I have an Aqua Tech and have been using filters made for it, but I've saved a few of the plastic holders/frames (minus the old material and charcoal) and will one day figure out how to securely attach filter material to one to recycle the frame. I've tried dental floss but that doesn't quite work. Fortunately the replacement filters are cheap, though I haven't changed the current one in a month or so.
 
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