Filter Maintenance

[woody111]

my filter is made up of a filter sponge and a carbon cartridge. The instructions i had with the tank say to wash the sponge in aquarium water and the cartridge under the tap. Shouldn't both be washed in aquarium water?

It also says to replace the carbon cartridge every 6 - 8 weeks. Is this correct as i thought the whole point of cycling was to build up bacteria in the filter. if the cartridge is replaced wont the new one need to be cycled again.

Thanks for any help

 

[marcan]

carbon removes chemicals from your aquarium. After a certain amount of time, the carbon lose it's ability to absorb the chemicals.
That's why you have to change it every few weeks.

Don't waste your time washing your carbon since you'll have to get rid of it anyway.

Good bacterias will develop on your sponge and ceramics rings like biomax. Like you said, you have to wash it with aquarium water because water tap may kills your bacteria colony.

+ You may want to consider replacing your carbon with another type of media (like ceramic rings). Bacteria will have more surface to develop.

Lots of people use carbon only to remove medication in the tank.

It's another way to save some money