Filter Cartridge Question

Ok guys...need ur expertise! I have a fully cycled 20 gal aquarium. With a couple Cory's, a few Platys, a few lyretail mollies and a couple mystery snails. My parameters are great, been doing 30% water changes weekly. I have a Top Fin Cartridge filter in that tank and in my 5 gal with my betta only I have a Marineland cartridge filter. I just did my first cartridge clean tonight. I followed y'all's advice on not tossing my cartridges but instead rinsing them well in the old tank water. Got lots of nasties off...really looked good after. However both my filters show red on the indicator to (change filter) still. Is this bc the old carbon is still in there? I thought as clean as it came the change cartridge indicator would go back to green. It's a ton cleaner than it was. Everyone is happy and healthy...stupid filter cartridge indicator just stays on red/Change. What u guys think?

 

Ignore indicator. Keep doing what you're doing. Just wait until your filter cartridge is dissolved like mine before you change for a new one. When you do, I'd leave the new filter cartridge in with the old one still in for a few weeks before garbaging the old cartridge so you don't lose beneficial bacteria (if this makes sense).

 

Read this post. It is what I do now. Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Filters and Filtration 385506

 

Thanks u guys... helpful as always

 

I have a 10 gal Top Fin filter and did what others have said, just rinsing it in tank water, after 9 months. I've since threw that blue plastic thingy out and added Fluval foam sponge with the cartridge. I also added a piece of the foam to the intake tube.