Filter Sponge Ripping?

[Soupy97]

So I have an eheim 2213 and the last layer of filtration is the "fine filter pad" which is a thin white flossy layer. It is starting to rip (its been in there for about 6 months) and I want to replace it but I have a feeling that all the crap on it is biological bacteria.

I read that the thick pads are mechanical filtration, and that thinner pads are biological filtration, so this being a thin pad, can I replace it?

 

[flitabout]

I would replace it but before you is there a way you can run the old and the new one next together for a few weeks to colonize the new one with your bb?

 

[Soupy97]

Yeah I could probably just place a new one over the old one then remove the old one about a month later.

 

[flitabout]

That should give it a good amount of time to colonize perfectly.