Replacing filter cartridge

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AKelly

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Messages
84
Location
Dutchess County, NY
Hi,

I have to replace my filter catridge like every 2 weeks. Is this normal? It is one of those that you just insert into the filter. It gets gunk on one side, then the water doesn't flow through. Am I suposed to clean it somehow and reuse it or just break out a new one???? It says nothing about cleaning the cartridge on the package.

help...
 
You can rinse out your filter cartridge each time you do a water change. I rinse mine out in the bucket that the used tank water is in. I have been advised against rinsing in normal tapwater because it can disrupt the bacterial growth in my bio-wheels. Once rinsed you should get a couple more weeks use out of it. (Depending on your fish bio-load of course.) I do weekly water changes so my cartridge gets rinsed weekly and changed at least once a month. You can usually tell pretty easily if you need to actually change it.

Hope this helps.

Rose
 
You're a filter-manufacturer's dream-come true! :D

Same thing happens to my Penhuin mini cartridges. I dunk the filthy cartridge in a bucket of old tank water and gently wipe the pad clean. Then I put the catridge back in the filter and I'm good to go for another 2 - 3 weeks. Eventually (about 3 months), the fibrous pad becomes so thin and stringy, that I have to replace the cartridge.
 
But if it's a carbon filter, the carbon wears out in about 4 weeks, doesn't it? If it's the kind you can refill, you can just put in fresh carbon and use the filter until it wears out, like Cherry Barb and QTOffer said.
 
I I generally don't use carbon unless it's already in the cartridge -- and even then, I really don't give it much thought. However, if you're using a cartridge containing carbon to pull out meds, odors, or discoloration, I guess it would be wise to dump the carbon after 2 - 3 weeks.
 
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