Winton

I am confused on what to do regarding filter changes. My tank is cycled and water is fine. But i understand that i am supposed to change the filters once in awhile for new ones. Will this not start the cycle all over again?
I rinse the filters in the water that i remove from tank but i think i am supposed to get new ones once in awhile. How often and how do i keep the water at good levels? I have one of those 55 gallon tanks from Petsmart with the "Top Finn" hang on back filters, it has 2 pads in it.
Hope i have not confused you as much as i am.

sgould

When you want to change, only change 1 pad, wait a couple of weeks, then change the other. Another little trick is to cut a small piece of material off of the old pad and put it in with the new pad to help seed it.

Barbrella

There is no need to change your filter material, unless it's falling apart.

The box that the filter comes in tells you to change the floss so they can sell more.

Winton

Thanks for your replies, now i feel a little better.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to FishLore!

In our filters, we just use the filter sponges that we swish around in a container of tank water during the weekly cleaning and a cut piece of:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113808

That stuff is great and lasts a long time, we just clean it weekly like we do the sponges.