cloudy but crystal clear?

dont even do it if the tank is cycled bc then it will be uncycled or you'll atleast have a huge mini cycle
If your tank has been properly cycled, changing of the filter should not cause it to become uncycled or induce a mini-cycle. Contrary to popular belief, filters don't hold as much bacteria as you imagine. If you regularly change filters out, your main source of bacteria will be on the hard surfaces such as gravel glass and decor, where it belongs.

In case where a tank is not finished cycling there is no point to removing the filter. "White floaties" can be a build up of slime coat that can form on gravel, glass, inside filter pick-ups that got disturbed, fluff from the filter cartridge, etc. I wouldn't stress over it until tank has finished cycling. In the meantime you can net it out and verify what it is.
 
id say replace the cartridge and see if that helps. man you just cant catch a break with the 10g can you? is it still cycling?

Actually, I think it is finally done cycling. 2 weeks ago it seemed to be at the point where they would drop any day now. Well, now the tank looks a lot cleaner, and I am getting less and less out of the gravel in each wc. (the problem with my cycling was there were two large pockets of crap that I managed to never clean somehow)

I do have slime coating stuff including, gravel, glass, heater (I clean that off every couple days to make sure it can still heat the tank), and decor. I am going to the lfs tomorrow to have them test it. Hopefully it will finally be good and i can get those fish out and the fish I want in. Next time I am fishless cycling.

While replacing the bio bag, I plan on letting it sit in the back or front of the hob for a week or so to allow it to pick up some bacteria. Then tossing the old one out. It has been in there since I set up the tank in early-mid September. I have washed it out in old tank water every other water change. I think it is defiantly time to replace it. I know for a fact, there are plenty of places in my tank where there is bacteria that the tank needs other than the filter.
 
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