ok so i have had my tank set up since november 29th......with same filter cartridge in it.....should i change to a new one??? also i know thats where the benefical bacteria is so how do i go about that....i think i read somewhere to swish it around in the tank first???? i want to make sure i do this right since my tank just finished cycling last week....thanks for all your help in advance!!!
changing filter cartridge???????
- Thread starter gouramimommy125
- Start date
Keep the filter in.
All you need to do is a good WC of about 25%-50% and keep enough to rinse the filter material out on. All you want to do is remove all the nasty loose particles and debri from the filter. Swish it around in the drained water and maybe even some LIGHT squeezing to get out the gunk. You may want to do 5G buckets at a time, rinsing the sponge of in each bucket before tossing the water.
Reload the filter material and refill the tank with Prime/Dechlorinated water and restart the tank. No need to keep changing the filter material, it's just marketing trying to make more money for the company.
All you need to do is a good WC of about 25%-50% and keep enough to rinse the filter material out on. All you want to do is remove all the nasty loose particles and debri from the filter. Swish it around in the drained water and maybe even some LIGHT squeezing to get out the gunk. You may want to do 5G buckets at a time, rinsing the sponge of in each bucket before tossing the water.
Reload the filter material and refill the tank with Prime/Dechlorinated water and restart the tank. No need to keep changing the filter material, it's just marketing trying to make more money for the company.
so i take the cartridge and swish it in the dirty water....when i do water changes i have a 2 gallon bucket so i take out 2 gallons at a time....now when i swish off that debri that wont take away the benefical bacteria will it?
Most filters have a cartridge and some place else for the majority of the bacteria to colonize. My Tetra AFS for example has the cart insert and a coarse foam pad for the bacteria. Biowheel type filters have the cart insert and the wheel.
My routine maintenance for my filters is to rinse the cartridge in the bucket with the tank water, rub lightly with my fingers to help remove anything, swish it around in the water a bunch. I only replace them when they are falling apart.
The bio sponge only gets rinsed if there is a reduction in flow or water through the overflow after the cart is cleaned.
My carts last around three months using this method.
If all you have is a cart with no bio media I would suggest just a good rinse/finger rub.
There is bacteria in the substrate, on plants, rocks etc in the tank also, but who knows if after one week if the population is sufficient to maintain the cycle.
My routine maintenance for my filters is to rinse the cartridge in the bucket with the tank water, rub lightly with my fingers to help remove anything, swish it around in the water a bunch. I only replace them when they are falling apart.
The bio sponge only gets rinsed if there is a reduction in flow or water through the overflow after the cart is cleaned.
My carts last around three months using this method.
If all you have is a cart with no bio media I would suggest just a good rinse/finger rub.
There is bacteria in the substrate, on plants, rocks etc in the tank also, but who knows if after one week if the population is sufficient to maintain the cycle.
:grinyes: I totally agree! If you're talking sponges, I only change mine about once a year. I just rinse them in dechlorinated water every 2 or 3 months and pop them right back in. I guess it would depend on what kind and how many fish you have, how often you do water changes and if your tank is planted but if your tank has just cycled it can't be very dirty. I wouldn't want to mess with the beneficial bacteria, so soon, IMO.
