dorcy

I have a new tank that came with the Elite Hush 20 Power Filter. That filter has two inserts. One is just foam (which can be rinsed and reused) the other is a polyester/carbon insert. My question is about how to properly change the inserts.

The foam one is easy, I can rinse it with some water from the tank itself so as to not interrupt my cycle in my tank...but I'm confused as to how to properly change the carbon insert. Do I rinse the new one I'm putting in with water from the tank or do I rinse it with water from the tap? I know the cycle is important to a tanks health and I don't want to harm that process...but I'm confused...by rinsing the carbon insert with tap water does that harm this process? I know there are "good" bacteria that reside in the filter, so I want to keep them obviously...

I'd appreciate some advice...

COBettaCouple

The carbon would need replaced weekly and the polyester part needs cleaned the same way as the sponge.

dorcy

the carbon and polyester are all one piece...so I just throw it out when it's been used up and replace with a new one? do I rinse the new one with tap water or with water from the tank?

COBettaCouple

What I'd recommend doing is to look for this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&c=3578+4150&

I think petsmart carries it. We use this in place of the bags or cartridges the filters come with. Just cut a piece to fit the filter and you have a durable and long-lasting alternative to spending a fortune on bags or cartridges. Some of our filters have had the same cut piece of that filter floss for almost a year now.

Always use treated tap water or tank water for cleaning filter media, never untreated tap water (which is often what pet stores tell people). The cleaning for these is the same as for the sponges.

dorcy

I will look for that product next time i'm at the pet store. For now, I'm assuming I just keep replacing the poly/carbon all-in-one cartridge, and just rinse the separate sponge one correct? I understand that the "good" bacteria grow in my filter...won't me removing and replacing the poly/carbon cartridge get rid of the good bacteria?

mrsmuffin

I would think that you would be keeping enough bacteria in the sponge that you would be okay changing out the cartridge.

COBettaCouple

Our tanks did alright back when we would replace those filter bags once a month.