Difference Between Cartridge and Filter?

This may sound like a dumb question but I don't know the difference between a cartridge and a filter. Because I read in the manual that I'm suppose to change the cartride every 4 weeks. But then I heard that most beneficial bacteria are in filters and we should not change it at all. So I'm a little confused as to what is the filter. The actual machine? The cartridge? The little sponge where the water gets sucked in to? Because the sponge I clean out.

 

HI Candie. Filter is the generalized term for the filtration unit. It also means the actual STUFF that goes inside the compartment, the stuff that actually filters. This is also called "media," and is more commonly called such in the hobby. Media can either be mechanical, chemical or biologial.

A cartridge is premade media consisting of mechanical and usually chemical filtration. Each different filter comes with a cartridge designed to fit inside the media compartment, however many of us use custom media and no longer purchase the premade kind. We feel we can do it better

Some filters have dedicated biomedia, whether it be a wheel, a special cartridge, cermaic rings, etc.

When you change the cartridge, you are throwing out the bacteria living on it. Filters with biomedia solve that problem by maintaining a colony separate from the cartridge. They want you to keep buying cartridges, so they've dealt with that problem.

Lesser quality filters do not deal with this problem, and so every time you switch them out you are putting the tank in a minicycle - not a good plan for success in the hobby. For these kinds of filters, it's recommended to switch to a media that you no longer throw out every month. Sponges are good for this, because they maintain their integrity over time. Filter pads wear out and disintegrate.

What kind of filter do you have?

 

I have a Marina SlI'm Filter S10. It has been a month now so I have to change the cartridge. But what happens if I don't change the cartridge?

 

Nothing.....the activated carbon will stop working.

I would replace the cartridge. I would take the old cartridge and cut away the mechanical media and place that in front of the new cartridge in the filter.

 

If I cut the old cartride out, it will get very messy. I don't know if I can put the old cartride in front of the new cartridge because there is only space for one cartridge. There are actually 2 cartridge compartments so I have to buy 2 new cartridges. I'm thinking of only putting 1 new cartridge at a time. Would that be a good idea?

 

Yes, do one at a time. Bacteria will grow on the cartridges and by only changing one at a time, you will keep some of the beneficial bacteria in the filter.

 

Okay thanks so much I'm going to do just that. Phew!

 

You don't really need to change the cartridges every month either. Just take them out and rinse them with some tank water and you're good to go. My "cartridge" is about 3 months old and works fine. I'm gettin me a new filter for Christmas tho

 

You don't really need to change the cartridges every month either. Just take them out and rinse them with some tank water and you're good to go. My "cartridge" is about 3 months old and works fine. I'm gettin me a new filter for Christmas tho

the carbon doesn't work fine after 3 months.....

if you want the carbon to work, change the cartridge every month. Since you have 2 slots, just alternate and replace one every 3 weeks.

 

I think that only depends on whether or not you need/want carbon? I personally don't use it so I just dumped the carbon(my cartridge is tetra's bio-bag) out and rinsed the cartridge and put it back in.

But like Jaysee said, if you want the carbon to work you have to change them.