lilytheqtpie

Background: I have a 3 gallon tank (The Eclipse 3 system) and it has the z-filters that have to be changed every 2-4 weeks.

I FINALLY was getting great ammonia levels and my water was super clear last week, but the z-filter was 4 weeks old and not doing the mechanical filtering anymore, so I changed it. (It seemed to be doing biological filtering very well because all my levels were normal and consistent.)
With this new filter it is like I am starting all over again! My tank has been established for a little over a month now (this is my first filter change), but my question is: am I going to have to go through this every time I change the filter?
I have not completely changed the water since I started the aquarium, so shouldn't that be what holds the "good" bacteria?

Nate McFin

You really shouldn't change the filter as that is where the bacteria is mainly growing. The water only has minimal amounts.
Water will tend to cloud during a cycle and you should not be concerned, its all part of the process.

lilytheqtpie

So how do I keep the mechanical filtering then? With the eclipse 3 the filter does both, so I had to change it to keep the big particles out of the water. Is there a way to leave the filter and get mechanical filtering without adding it separately?

Nate McFin

You can rinse the filter in dechlorinated water to get most of the debris out. Do this until it is falling apart and it should last quite some time.
When you do need to add a new filter keep the old one in there as well until the new one has been in awhile. This will establish the new filter so you dont have to start over. You save money as well!~

04_si

its also super easy to give the filter a little swish around in the bucket after a water change