How often to replace Eclipse Filter Cartridges?
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bacteria are everywhere in the tank, but the bio wheel is meant to harbor most of it.
you shouldnt need to replace the filter media until it falls apart or if you have to put meds in the tank. in that case you will need the new carbon in a new cartridge.
you should swish the filter cartridge in old tank water every two weeks or so though.
you shouldnt need to replace the filter media until it falls apart or if you have to put meds in the tank. in that case you will need the new carbon in a new cartridge.
you should swish the filter cartridge in old tank water every two weeks or so though.
Thanks!
heard mixed things about changing filters with carbon and not changing. I haven't changed mine in almost a year. I've run it through dechlorinated water to clean it up a bit.
Now when you say old tank water, you mean water that is changed or the tank itself?
heard mixed things about changing filters with carbon and not changing. I haven't changed mine in almost a year. I've run it through dechlorinated water to clean it up a bit.
Now when you say old tank water, you mean water that is changed or the tank itself?
When you do your regular water change/gravel vac stuff.. save a little of the tank water you're discarding to clean up the filter media. If it's going down a drain, a bucket or large tub in the sink will catch some.. same thing if you're using a garden fawcet. That water is safe for the bacteria living in the filter media.. tap water or hose water would obviously kill it all.
You don't want to clean the filter inside the tank itself. You've been using the filter to collect excess waste all this time, so don't re-introduce that same gunk back into your tank. That defeats the purpose of filtering it out of the water in the first place.
The tiny portion of carbon inside them gets old and useless very fast. I've cut open those filters before to really fill it up with fresh, activated carbon before. Then just sewed it back up again. To prolong the life of a single cartridge, I've also covered in pantyhose nylon sometimes.. or removed the disintgrating filter pad with new bulk filter stuff. Because that plastic frame fits the slot available. You really don't need to replace the whole thing until it finally wears out enough that it's falling apart.
You don't want to clean the filter inside the tank itself. You've been using the filter to collect excess waste all this time, so don't re-introduce that same gunk back into your tank. That defeats the purpose of filtering it out of the water in the first place.
The tiny portion of carbon inside them gets old and useless very fast. I've cut open those filters before to really fill it up with fresh, activated carbon before. Then just sewed it back up again. To prolong the life of a single cartridge, I've also covered in pantyhose nylon sometimes.. or removed the disintgrating filter pad with new bulk filter stuff. Because that plastic frame fits the slot available. You really don't need to replace the whole thing until it finally wears out enough that it's falling apart.
They say change every 2 weeks
But it should say clean every two weeks
As long as you get most of the bacteria out of the cartridge when cleaning, it should be fine to use again
But it should say clean every two weeks
As long as you get most of the bacteria out of the cartridge when cleaning, it should be fine to use again
They say change every 2 weeks
But it should say clean every two weeks
As long as you get most of the bacteria out of the cartridge when cleaning, it should be fine to use again
Exactly. Their goal is to get you to buy as many filters as they tell you. If you re-use an old filter cartridge all the time, they don't make any money.
haha,
Yeah I was reading the other post on the Bio Modules and was thinking.. hm.. you almost could make your own filter out of the "plastic shell" of the filters for the Eclipse.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179266&p=1786153&page=2
Yeah I was reading the other post on the Bio Modules and was thinking.. hm.. you almost could make your own filter out of the "plastic shell" of the filters for the Eclipse.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179266&p=1786153&page=2
I don't even use the cartridges. I just cut some raw floss to size and put it in the filter box along with a coarse piece of sponge.
I don't think I have ever replaced my media...I just swish it around in tank water every couple weeks.