Filter Change Question

[BigHilda]

Hello everyone,

I posted this in the hardware topic, but didn't get any replies yet. Maybe here is the better place to post this question as I am beginner.

I'm new to the hobby. I have a ten gallon tank with one male betta. The tank has cycled nicely (I used Bio Spira and it only took about eleven days to cycle completely). I am coming up on when I am supposed to change the filter cartridge, and I am wondering about the bio-filtration that has probably built up in there. I have read in several places not to change "more than half" the media at a time, but the problem is that I have a Tetra Whisper Micro filter, and it only has one cartridge. I wanted a smaller filter so the betta wouldn't have such big currents to annoy him. Should I change just the carbon or just the floss? (It's sort of a two part filter - should I keep using the old carbon for a while and then after a few weeks replace it with new carbon after the "new" floss gets about two weeks old?) Just wanting to find some answers before it's really time to change my filter.

Thanks!
Laura

 

[gadazobe]

Hello Laura and welcome. I'm not familiar with the filter that you mentioned, but I assume that it's similar to most external filters. Why do you want to change the filter cartridge? It's a 10 gallon tank with one fish in it and only a few months old. I know that the manufacturers state to change the media every few weeks, but IMO, it really isn't necessary. Personally I only change the filter media when it gets so clogged up that the water doesn't run properly. You can clean the filter media when you do a water change. Wash out the media in the bucket that contains the old tank water and then put it (the filter media) back into the filter. Carbon also isn't necessary and should only be used to clear the water of medications. If you want, you can replace it with floss. If you do want to keep the carbon, then it must be changed every 3-4 weeks otherwise it will leach all the toxins that it gathered back into the water.

If, after reading all of this, you still want to replace the cartridge, then do it half at a time. First the carbon (if it's more than 3-4 weeks old) and then the floss a week later.

 

[BigHilda]

Hi gadazobe -
Thanks for the reply! The reason I wanted to change the filter is, as you said, because the manufacturer said to change it every 4 weeks. I think the filter is more of the "internal" design. It hangs on the back of the tank, and the main filter mechanism is all in the water. It pulls water in the bottom and then pours the water out the top. At www.tetra-fish.com you can find the filters as "Whisper Bio-Bags".
Plus, the filter instructions didn't say anything about being able to rinse out the media and re-use it. I'm not sure how to replace the carbon with floss because the carbon pours out of little bags into the inside of the floss.
What I'll probably end up doing is changing the filter in two parts, as you suggested. Still, I'm not exactly sure about carbon. I read somewhere that after it loses its "active" properties that it becomes a good home for bacteria. I didn't know that it would leach toxins back out after 3-4 weeks.

Thanks,
Laura

 

[Sky042]

the tetra/second nature filters use a frame that the bio-bag hangs on. You are supposed to replace the bag and the carbon but not touch the frame. in fact don't clean it rinse it or anything thats where most of the bacteria grows. it's also a safe bet to not feed for 24 hours after changing the cartridge.

 

[BigHilda]

Ok, so the bacteria will be growing on the plastic frame and I should never replace that. How about washing out floss and reusing that? Or should I follow manufacturer's directions and replace that too (just in different steps: carbon one week, floss the next?)

 

[gadazobe]

You can wash out the floss and reuse it. I throw mine when it starts to fall apart. (I don't think the manufacturers like me much - I just reuse the old stuff untill it falls apart)