Anyone with a Cascade 1000 water filter?

[Sportsnutim]

My 55 gallon tank is getting a gray like matter flowing across the water. I am assuming the filter media needs changed. Which need changed more the white floss or carbon media? Or just rinse the black media? Thanks

 

[Jessu]

I just got one and am setting it up now. In the directions it says "Replace expendable media such as carbon, zerolite, and filter resins. Rinse or replace floss pads and coarse sponge. Note that coarse sponge may contain valuable colonies of helpful bacteria that you may wish to maintain. Gently rinse and squeeze the coarse sponge in some aquarium water that you took from the aquarium. This will reduce clogging, but not kill off the entire bacterial colony. Tap water, with chlorine, should not be used on the coarse sponge since it may kill bacteria."

 

[beviking]

Is the filter new? If you didn't rinse the carbon initially there will be some carbon powder that would float and look grey. I'm not familiar with the cascade filters but in general the carbon last 1-3months and floss/pad type media is reusable but be sure to rinse it in aquarium water, usually drained into a bucket. You can rinse it rigorously, you won't get all the good bacteria off of it. Many ppl, myself included, do not use carbon due to its short life span but rely on water changes to remove pollutants since water is cheaper If you choose to leave the carbon out, just replace it with something else...pad, sponge, plastic or ceramic, anything really.