Filter cartridge changes

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stephenpjenkins

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
7
Location
Oregon USA
Quick question... I have a non-biowheel powerfilter and noticed that the filter cartridge looks like it has a good amount of bacterial growth on the pad. The cartridge has a clip on top that can be removed and the frame taken out of the cartridge leaving just a bag of floss and activated carbon.

My concern is that I would think that by getting rid of the whole cartridge, I would be losing a great deal of biological filtration. I was thinking about just rinsing out the floss with used aquarium water from a water change to get the chunks off and then refilling with fresh carbon and putting it back into the filter. Is this a good idea or am I really not losing all that much by using a brand new cartridge?
 
You are definitely correct in your thinking that there is a lot of bacteria growing on that pad. I like to hold onto those things as long as possible, until they are losing shape and hopelessly tattered, before I replace them. Rinse them off in tank water or dechlorinated tap water and, like you say, get the big chunks off, and pop it back in. I don't bother with carbon in my filters unless I am trying to remove medication or something, but that is up to you. I like to clear those filter cartridges once a week.
 
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