Cascade 80 filter

[Wat2Go]

And yes, another newby question.
We are using a Cascade 80 filter for a ten gallon tank.

After initial disaster (see other posts) we now have 6 zebra danio's (and a common pleco that is going to leave this tank, it is small now but I understand it is not a fish for a 10-gallon tank (even though many people told us to get a small pleco to help keep the tank clean...) to re-cycle this tank. We had quite a few fish die so I did a 50 % waterchange the one day and another 50% waterchange the next. Because 1 danio wasn't going to help much with cycling, I tested waterperimeters (all perfect) and added 5 danio's.

Now, I keep on reading about all these healthy bacteria in your filter and that a filter should not be rinsed under tap water. Which leaves the question: why would I need to replace the cartridge (by lack of a better word; it is a carban cartridge with some polyfiber floss) of the cascade 80 every three weeks or so (as recommended in the manual and by the LFS)? Will I then not throw away all these healthy bacteria? The Cascade 80 does not come with a sponge or biofalls anything... do I initiate a mini cycle every time I change the cartridge?

Is this filter ok for our tank? or should I upgrade somehow? This filter was part of the start-up kit.


L.

 

[jm1212]

i have close to the same filter, the cascade 150, running on my 20 gallon. i have not changed the filter cartridge since august, and you really dont need to change it until the filter floos on the front is falling off, etc.

dont change it on yours, especially since your does not have the "bio falls" cartridge

 

[zazz]

I agree.

Carbon inside the cartridges IMO ( and apparently in the oppinion of many others here ) Is really not useful as anything other than an additional surface
for the 'healthy bacteria'.You are right that throwing these away would be a bad thing.
Carbon apparently can remove some types of chemicals from water. However, it's ability to do this in a tank filter only lasts maybe 2 weeks.
(This, I suppose is how the manufacturers justify regular replacement.But you are right,it does not make any sense to replace it frequently when it is your biofilter.)
Luckily, this function of charcoal is not necessary on a regular basis.
If a medication,for instance, is added to the tank, carbon is often run afterwords to remove it.
Treat the whole cartridge as a particle and biological filter, rinse it of weekly or so with De chlorinated water ( for instance old tank water at water change) and it will last for quite some time.
good luck starting over with this tank.
Do you have a good understanding of "fishy cycling"?
| just curiously, did many people at this forum recommend a small pleco for your 10 G?

 

[Wat2Go]

No, nobody at this forum told me to get a pleco! The teacher at my daughters school (who actually has 2 tanks and has been keeping fish for years!) told me to get a small pleco, as did two of our LFS. And some other people on the www. I am certainly happy I found this forum. I am thinking many questions will come your way!!

Yes, I think I have the cycling down. The previous tank had been stable for more than 4 weeks, with two happy swordtails and two happy platies (those four cycled the tank). Then we added some tetras and danios (only now do I realize we absolutely overcrowded the tank) and disaster struck!

We plan to remove the pleco (hard to tell but I think it is an Angelicus Pleco) and in a month or so to add a couple of swordfish.

In two months time we will set up a 29gallon tank (my husband's birthday..) and the danio's will go in that tank. We might add some guppies or some platies to the 10 gallon at that time, but maybe not...

Like any newby we have been way too impatient!!!

L.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

why would I need to replace the cartridge (by lack of a better word; it is a carban cartridge with some polyfiber floss) of the cascade 80 every three weeks or so (as recommended in the manual and by the LFS)? Will I then not throw away all these healthy bacteria?
L.

they sold you the filter.... now how are they going to make money on you???? a lot of things they say is to help their bottom line and now for the good of the fish. i only change the media when its about to fall apart. i just clean it with old tank water.