hooxeii

So I had to change the media in the filter today. The instructions for the filter (Lee's quick and easy corner filter) say to change it every 3 weeks, but I waited a little longer (almost 5) because it seemed to be working ok. Well, looked at the inside today and let's just say it was high time, lol. Water was ok, but wouldn't have been for much longer.

Because you can't just replace part of the media, I had to remove the entire cartridge, etc, which is where the bacteria grow on this filter. I was nervous about an ammonia spike, so I put some gravel inside the filter to help jumpstart the cycle. I also read on the replacement cartridge that there is zeolite in the media, so ammonia won't be much of a problem I don't think... I also put the filter closer to the ground to help with the cycling.

Did I do the right things? I'm getting the water tested later today or tomorrow, just to make sure things are ok.

Shawnie

for the all in one filter cartridges, you just put a slit and dump out the carbon part and leave the rest....the gravel holds your bacteria as well but most of it is seeded on what you threw out on the filter cartridge ...be ready for a mini cycle with water changes and prime just in case....

Butterfly

You can rinse your filter cartridge in used tank water to get the gunk out of it. You can do this until it tears up. about a week before you get ready to replace the cartridge slide the new one in behind the old. If there's not room, put the new one in and save a piece of the old one in the filter to seed the new cartridge.
The filter housing can be siphoned just like your tank when you change cartridges. I know the manufacturer says change it every three weeks but this is one of the ways they make money Most experienced fish keepers rinse their filter media and use it a good while. I have sponges in most of mine and some of them are several years old
Carol

hooxeii

Ok, I only changed the filter media a few hours ago, and after reading all of this I managed to save some of the scraps from the old cartridge media sponge-y thing and placed them in with the new filter... will it seed the bacteria, or will they have died after a few hours?

Butterfly

If it was still wet it should be ok
Carol

hooxeii

Thanks, I also added bio-boost because my LFS doesn't carry prime, but apparently bio-boost also has the nitrifiers and such...