Whisper Filter Bags

[55gal]

I know that good bacteria grows in filters, but I was wondering if when you change filter cartridges you are getting rid of all that good bacteria. I have the Whisper filter and I'm supposed to change the bag every month. So is that OK to do?

 

[mlawson]

It depends if the bag contains biological media.
Chemical and mechanical can be changed without
affecting the water, but if you change all the biological
media at once you will have to begin the nitrogen cycle.

 

[smmetz]

Whisper filters now come with a black "bio-sponge" type thing that goes right after the cartridge. Therefore, if you change your cartridge, there should be some bacteria in that black sponge. (as long as you do not let it dry out or rinse it in chlorinated water while cleaning your filter) You are right though that much of the bacteria is probably in the cartridge in additon to the bio-sponge. Therefore, I would reduce feeding for a day or two after changing the filter cartridge. This will reduce the waste from the fish, and give the bacteria time to catch up again with hopefully no amonia buildup in the water.


I do not replace the cartridge in mine every month. I usually do it every 2-3 months. Every couple weeks, during my regular maintenance, I rinse out the cartridge in a bucket of water I just took out of my tank. This prevents it from clogging up. I gently rub the sides of the filter cartridge with my finders while the cartridge is in the bucket of water.

If you have a Whisper60, then it should have 2 cartridges and 2 black "bio sponges". In this case, always replace 1 cartridge at a time. Replace the other side the following week when you do your regular water change again. This will almost guarentee that you will not have a problem with cycling and amonia.

 

[55gal]

ok that makes sense, thanks. my 55 gallon does have the black sponges but my 10 gallon does not.

 

[rptlike]

Open it gently and remove old carbon.
Rinse it in tank water.
Put generic filter foam inside that bag (1/2â€￾thick or thinner) on aquarium side of internal frame and similar but half-size smaller piece on other side of that plastic internal frame. On top of that smaller piece of foam put AquaClear Activated Carbon Bag (size 20 or 30).
Close the cartridge and put back to your filter. Every month change carbon and rinse foam from one side (in tank water).

 

[rdd1952]

I run 2 Whisper filters on my 29 gallon tank, a 30 and a 20. I only change the bags when they are too worn out to perform their function but when I do, I pour the ceramic media from the old bag into the new one so I'm keeping most of the bacteria. Someone mentioned that they now have a sponge that goes after the filter pack but I think that is only on the larger ones (my 30 has it, the 20 doesn't).