When To Change My Filter Media

[Miller2009]

Hi I'm running a aqua one 850 with a trickle filter. When I bought it it came with carbon/wool cartridges when should this be replaced? Also when should I stop running carbon and change to wool only?

 

[fluttermoth]

Carbon is used up between just four days and about week, depending on what it's adsorbing. It can make a good home for bacteria, but you'd have to remove it if your ever needed to medicate the tank, in case it adsorbed that too.
 
Most people don't bother running carbon at all, unless it's for a special reason (clearing up the last of meds after a course, removing tannins). You'd be better off replacing the whole thing with an extra sponge, or a sponge and a layer of floss, IMO.

 

[Miller2009]

Ok thanks. I found a replacement wool filter on amazon where you just cut it to size required are these any good? or should I use the expensive aqua one ones?

Also using non aqua one products would it void the warranty?

 

[fluttermoth]

There's no need to use the expensive ones; filter floss is filter floss. 
 
I can't honestly think that it would invalidate your warranty; maybe keep the old cartridge in case it goes wrong?