WaterFilterTop.com

1) When I'm changing out the old filter cartridge should I soak the new filter cartridge in tank water or, sink water?
2) How often do I REALLY need to change the filter cartridge?
3) Why doesn't the Bio-Fiber have to ever been changed, just rinsed?

Thanks

yes.

Only when you see the filter performance is going down. And at that point you can soak the old filter in dirty tank water and scrape the crud off the edges off.

You want to preserve the filter's bacteria by switching it you decrease the filter.

2008-08-14 14:32:15 by Candy

www.ted.com Too much of the world lacks access to clean drinking water. Engineer Michael Pritchard did something about it -- inventing the ...

Hi I've had a ten gallon fishtank for about a month and a half now. Everything is going great I just have a question about filter cartridges. I remember reading something about washing the current filter cartridge in some of the old tank water, but when and how often do I do this? Also when am I supposed to replace the cartridge altogether?

You can rinse off debris from the filter cartridge in the old tank water at each partial weekly water change.

I wouldn't ever replace the entire cartridge unless you were restarting the tank or the tank had been wiped out by a contagious parasite or disease. Replacing means you throw away all that tasty good bacteria that keeps the water parameters stable, by putting in a new cartridge the tank will go back into the nitrogen cycle while all that bacteria starts to grow all over again. There's likely to be an ammonia spike which will damage and kill any livestock you have.

2008-11-22 12:32:40 by jlinkfan88

Price: $13.60 $13.60

Carbon block
Perfect for RV's
Undersink system

Hello there I'm not sure when I need to switch cartridges in my 10 gallon. I have some neons, couple guppies, and some pristilla tetras, my water is in great shape, no problems. I just want to know when I can tell when it is time to change it. Also, what exactly is the cartridge I change. When I look inside I see 2 things, this black thin spongy thing and then behind that is a white cushiony thing

Just take out the sponge and white woolly stuff and rinse them out in old tank water when you do a water change.

They only need to be replaced when they fall apart.

Changing them all the time means you are throwing out most of your good cycle bacteria. Dont worry if they start looking a bit dirty, they work better like that.

Ian

2008-12-12 23:27:48 by jlinkfan88

Price: $44.95 $39.95

I also have a 20 regular and a 20 long fish tank but the 10 gallon is the only one thats giving me these nasty tiny black worms that weaved themselves inside the fish tank filter cartridge. Yuck! I never had this problem but unfortunatly I just got to cleaning my fish tank today after 4 months Im wondering if theres a link between the tanks dirty unchanged water Can someone please help or give any suggestions.

It is diffcult to answer your question completely without identifying the type of worms you have. Most problems are brought home in the plants, fish, and water from the pet store.

You will need to identify what type of worms you have before you can find a solution. Your worms may not even be black, but simply covered in the sludge that a filter cartridge will accumulate over time.

If they are a harmless variety of worm, you can simply not feed your fish any food, and just stir up the gravel in a small area on a daily basis (the chances are that if your filter cartridge is infested with worms, so is your gravel bed).

If you identify these worms as the harmful, parasitic type, then you will have to remove your fish to a gravel free, sponge filter only, quarantine tank, and completely re-do your old, infested tank.

You will have to try and stick to your maintenance schedule a little better from now on, to avoid anymore issues. If you need any more detailed info about your tank, please email me. Good Luck!

2007-11-13 14:35:18 by PSOs gal

I have a 5 gallon tank that came with a Whisper underwater filter for up to 10 gallons. It came in this little plastic bag so it said nothing about when to change the cartridge. I'm hearing you should only change the carbon in the cartridge? Should I only change the carbon or the whole cartridge bag? And is it ok to rinse the cartridge with water when I'm doing my weekly changes... or just leave it alone?

This is the filter... http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js p?productId=2753028#prodTab1

you should change the cartrigde and carbon once a month

2008-07-07 21:47:34 by Laughter P