Changing the Filter cartridge

[ejaramillo01]

Hello all, I decided to start a new thread, my original was desperate newbee. I have a 29g tank has been runing with fish for almost 45 days with no major problems. Thanks to the advice of a lot of people in this forum I'm doing much better now with my tank versus last years trials.

Now I set up a 10G quarantine tank, is fully cycled, good readings, and has 10 cardinal tetras living there for the last 2 weeks. The filter in this tank is a Marineland Pinguin 100 with a biowheel. In the back uses a cartridge filter with carbon. How often do I need to replace this cartridge? The filter has an extra space to put 2 cartridges at the same time. Is it a good idea to put the new cartridge in the second slot before remove the old one no? How long do I keep both?

Thanks for your answers.

 

[trackfast]

The recommended schedule by maker is monthly. I do keep two in and change out one at a time; this keeps more good bacteria around. I have a surplus of those cartridges and that's why I'm doing this way. When I get done, I'm only going to run filter floss; carbon is really only needed when treating or removing something. (IMO).

 

[mfdrookie516]

The only reason they recommend you change them, is so you'll buy more from them. Absolutely no reason to change them. Just rinse them off in a bucket of pwc water when you do a pwc. The only time you'll need to change them is once they start falling apart.

 

[tyspot1000]

+1

I have never changed any of my filter cartridges since I started the aquarium. The only filter that I have seen that you could change the cartridge without any problems is the Bio-wheel filters, The bio-wheels acts as the sourse of beneficial bacteria.

Tyler

 

[BigJim]

+2 When you change your cartridge, you lost a lot of beneficial bacteria.

 

[ejaramillo01]

Thanks

Great.
So I will keep both and not changed at all unless they start to disintegrate.
Reading your answers I will just rinsed gently with tank water when they get a little to much gunky or too dirt.
Thanks guys

 

[XimeD]

I have the Penguin biowheel 150 model and I do keep 2 cartdridges in there at all times, what I do is I rinse the one in the back (farthest from the biowheel) in old tank water and switch places with the one in the front. I do that once a month. Also, every couple of months or if I notice the flow getting slower I clean the impeller (or whatever you call the spinning wheel inside the filter (not the biowheel))

I've been doing this for about 7 months now and never had any issues.

 

[ejaramillo01]

filter

I liked your suggestion. I will maintain 2 all the time and will do the swicht every month.

Thankas again