bacteria growth

[moist]

i have read numerous places that the helpful bacteria for a aquarium grows on the filter. i am wondering where on the filter, and if when i clean my filter there is anythin special i should do. my filter is a top fin one, with the cartridges of floss and u just dump the carbon in and slide them back in. thx for any info

 

[Torrean]

So you have two cartridges. One of filter floss and one bio bag that you put the carbon in right. Well the bacteria grow everywhere but in particular they grow in the filter floss. They will also grow on the carbon and the bio bag. The way you clean a filter, which you only do when it is REALLY clogged with gunk is that you GENTLY swish it around in old tank water that you get from a water change.
DO NOT USE TAP WATER.
most people say that carbon is not essential for a healthy aquarium and that it's only essential when you are trying to remove medications from the tank. I use carbon and it doesn't seem to do any harm so i say leave it in. If nothing else it gives the bacteria a little more surface area to grow on. Bacteria also grows on gravel and plants so be careful when changing things around in your tank. If you switch substrate you will start another cycle as this is really were a lot of the bacteria lives. If anyone disagrees with me please say so as I do NOT know it all.

 

[The-Wolf]

Torrean has covered it all.
the most important bit being, never clean in tap water.

 

[gadazobe]

Torrean has covered it well, just one more thing. If you do use carbon it must be changed regularly otherwise the impurities that are left in it will be leached back into into the tank. It should be changed about every 4-6 weeks.