How often should filters cartridges be replaced?

[new2betas]

It says on most of the boxes to replace them after one month. Is this too soon? My new 10 gallon tank is almost finished cycling and it hasn't taken a month. Isn't the point to keep all that good stuff that you have acquired in the filter cartridge? So, how often do you change them? What signs do you look for to know it is time for a change?

[SpeedEuphoria]

Do NOT change it!!

Well not without seeding a new one. Lots of bacteria are on the filter, so if you throw it away then you throw away most of the bacteria that you just spent time growing(cycling). So you will have to cycle it again

Do NOT rinse in tap water(unless your absolutely positive it has no chlorine). Chlorine will kill the bacteria.

Many people keep them for years w/o replacing. Mine had carbon in it, so I opened it up and shook all of it out, then closed it back up(carbon is only needed to remove medications or such from the water and seems to get used up after 1 month or so). Then best thing to do is during a water change, take the filter cartridge out and shake it/rinse it in the old tank water to clean it out, then put it back. The bacteria do not have to be in water all of the time, they need oxygen mostly and keeping them damp is good.

[new2betas]

Thanks for that wonderful explanation! I now understand. I knew I probably should keep it, but definitely didn't think about not rinsing it with tap water. What if my filter has the carbon in it? When I do my partial water change before adding fish to my new tank, should I take the carbon out? Oh....and how do you seed a new filter? Just place it in the tank for a few weeks before changing it with the old?

[warped1]

If I knew what kind of filter you are using it would be a great help. For instance if you are using a Whisper hang on the back of the tank type, the answer is really simple. The Whisper has a black foam sponge in front of the white mesh filter pad that holds the charcoal. That is where (given enough time) a large colony of good bacteria will make a home. This black sponge should not be rinsed or changed for a very long time. Just forget it is there. The white mesh filter pad can be changed when you start the notice the water level in the filter rise too high as to cause a back flow of water into the tank (about a month - month and half). It really depends on how many fish you have and the amount of food you feed them. Too much food and waste shortens the replacement period. But since your tank is just finishing cycling, I cannot see the need to replace the white filter anytime soon. Look for the tell tale signs of the water backing up.
If you have an Aqua Clear, again I would forget the sponge at the bottom for a while (good bacteria there) and would alternate replacement of the other components monthly. But again your tank just finished cycling so I wouldn't touch it for a while.
I hope this helps - but let us know what type of filter you are using to best help you

[SpeedEuphoria]

Personally since my filter is Whisper HOB, I dont agree with the above, bacteria are on the white filter pad and I shake it out to fix the issue of it being clogged up. Put it back and works great. To me the replace your filter is marketing, I'm sure many fish have suffered and died from ammonia spikes from unknowing owners(before they find AA), this makes $$ and drives the aquarium market to an extent. All I know that there are many companies that try to pull things over on unknowing consumers, in every market imaginable around the world.

Well I'm still new, but read that the "Activated Carbon" is kinda a debated topic. Basically the carbon gets used up, or its properties as a filter after ~ 1month. There may be some bacteria living on the carbon pellets in the filter(its all about surface area). I wanted to remove it to help get more flow and it was basically expired so to speak. Now I did not notice any change in water parameters after removing the carbon, so either there was not much bacteria living on the carbon, or there was enough to do the job still left, basically no spikes/issues in my case. I dont think the flow increased much, but had to be some(less restriction). Personally I would not hesitate to remove it.

I would wait for an expert to chime in more(notice how I second guess myself)

As far as seeding, you want the new filter pad in the filter with the waterflow. You just take an older used filter and set in the tank, then those bacteria will migrate to the area with most flow and oxygen, so the new filter pad.

[Purrbox]

Don't replace your cartridge until it's literally falling apart. Then takes some of the old media and place it in with the new cartridge for a few weeks so that the bacteria seed the new filter with minimal loss. You also don't have to use the cartidges made for your filter. You can buy sheets of polyfiber and cut them to fit. It's a lot less expensive and makes it easier to swap out filter media without your biofilter taking a big hit.

[new2betas]

I'm sorry for not mentioning the type....it is a Top Fin hang on the back of tank type. It does not have the foam sponge in front of the white mesh filter pad. I just checked and there seems to be no back up whatsoever at this point.

[SpeedEuphoria]

Originally Posted by Purrbox

Don't replace your cartridge until it's literally falling apart. Then takes some of the old media and place it in with the new cartridge for a few weeks so that the bacteria seed the new filter with minimal loss. You also don't have to use the cartidges made for your filter. You can buy sheets of polyfiber and cut them to fit. It's a lot less expensive and makes it easier to swap out filter media without your biofilter taking a big hit.

Hey thanks to the link for filter media!! Added to my cart for next order.

Like I said its all about surface area, that black extra mesh filter is basically pointless IMO.