Filter Cartridge

[mouse33]

When I change my filter cartridge that has carbon in it how do the bacteria stay with the filter are they on the walls of it?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Don't change your filter cartridge unless it's falling apart...that is where all the bacteria live, and by replacing the entire cartridge you uncycle your tank. You can replace the media inside the cartridge if you like, or replace the old outside of the cartridge by putting the old media into the new cartridge...but never replace the whole thing at once.

 

[mouse33]

It says to replace it once a month like the spongey thing.
it is a sleeve that fits over a piece of plastic. This is the filter

Here are the cartridges.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

The only thing that would ever need to be replaced monthly would be activated carbon...which is not necessary. Activated carbon is just a short lived and somewhat unpredictable chemical filter...the only thing that most of use activated carbon for is to remove medications from the water after treatment.

Filter companies want to sell you things...that is how they make money. You don't have to replace a filter sponge/cartridge unless it's falling apart. If it gets dirty just gently rinse it in old tank water when you do a water change.

 

[mouse33]

ok thank you so I should keep the filter the way it is and not change the cartridge and will the sponge do the filtering without carbon ( is carbon needed for the filter to work properly?

 

[Behold]

ok thank you so I should keep the filter the way it is and not change the cartridge and will the sponge do the filtering without carbon ( is carbon needed for the filter to work properly?

From what i have read and the advice from my tetratec manual is you wash your filter in tank water. (So not to kill the bacteria) keep doing this untill the filter is not cleaning/in a usable condition.

It suprised me that my manual confirmed this as they wat you to keep buying new filters to keep the money flowing.