Filter Cartridge Change?

severina418

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Sep 7, 2006
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How often should the filter cartridge for a 10g tank be cleaned or replaced? On the box for the filter I have, it says the filter should be replaced every 2-4 weeks, but I read somewhere else that it's better to just rinse the filter for a while so that the bacteria doesn't have to start all over in a new filter again. I hope I made sense?
 
Well if your using a HOB filter then just take out the filter and rinse it every 2 weeks or so. When you rinse it make sure to rinse it in tank water. What I mean by this is when you clean your tank put the water in a bucket and rinse the filter in that water. If you use water from the tap to clean the filter you may end up hurting the bacteria. Now when the filter starts to get worn out and tearing apart then you will need to replace it.

I hope this helps ya.
 
So what you folks are saying is that with these filters that hang on the back of the tank, I should just rinse it out in tank water and not change it once a month?
 
CoreyMac said:
So what you folks are saying is that with these filters that hang on the back of the tank, I should just rinse it out in tank water and not change it once a month?

You should change out the cartridge when after rinsing the water flow is still siginificantly lower than it was when the cartridge was fresh.

SirWired
 
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