Carbon filter changes.

[BettaBabe]

I change mine every other week. It's costly and I wanted to know if there was a "norm"?

BB

 

[Nina7777]

I rinse my carbon inserts weekly in old tank water after my water change. But I usually replace them every 4-6 weeks. I have a two sided filter so I only change one at a time. Its actually not good to constantly change you cartridges, you end up getting rid of all your good bacteria, when it is just starting to get established.

If your cartridges are getting clogged too easily try feeding less, and or turning off the filter at feeding time.

This has helped me alot!

 

[luxum]

Carbon only works for a couple weeks at best, after that time it becomes inert biomedia, basically. I wouldn't worry about replacing the carbon at all, it's only needed to remove medication from the water really. You can reuse cartridge inserts several times by rinsing them in tank water at water changes. If this is an eclipse type system you can replace those cartridges with 2 of the foam inserts used in the aquaclear filters (may need to trim them) and they will last for many years and do a much better job of filtering. If this is a filter with the carbon separate in a bag or something, just use that space for a sponge or filter floss.