I'm not ready for this yet, as I'm in the last half of the initial nitrogen cycle, but when and how should filter cartridges for a HOB Emperor 400 (dual bio wheel) be changed?
There are two pairs of cartidges, one for activated charcoal, one foam/sponge type cartridge, with more charcoal inside it I think. One set for each half of the filter.
I know the cartridges will need changed (I scraped off some crud last week that was completely blocking it up), but I don't want to lose any beneficial bacteria.
Should I change one set at a time, then wait a week or two for the other?
Where exactly, besides the bio-wheel and filter media, does the beneficial bacteria live? In the sand? LR?
Also, if I want to help a cycle in my QT tank down the road, what can/should I take from the big tank to assist the process?
There are two pairs of cartidges, one for activated charcoal, one foam/sponge type cartridge, with more charcoal inside it I think. One set for each half of the filter.
I know the cartridges will need changed (I scraped off some crud last week that was completely blocking it up), but I don't want to lose any beneficial bacteria.
Should I change one set at a time, then wait a week or two for the other?
Where exactly, besides the bio-wheel and filter media, does the beneficial bacteria live? In the sand? LR?
Also, if I want to help a cycle in my QT tank down the road, what can/should I take from the big tank to assist the process?