How To Change Filter Without Destroying The Cycle

I have a cartridge based HOB filter, Aqueon 10 for 10 gallon tank.. it isn't cycled yet, but once it is, how do I put a new cartridge in without just throwing away all my BB?

 

How many cartridges does it have? If it has multiple cartridges, then just replace them one at a time. Honestly, I wouldn't even replace any cartridges, maybe just change out the carbon but I don't even use that... lol

 

Put the new cartridge behind the old one, wait a week, then throw the old one away.

Conversely, ditch the cartridges altogether. Using the previously mentioned method, instead of a cartridge just put in reusable sponge and biomedia.

 

It only came with one cartridge so I'm not sure how many it can fit, but it looks like multiple should so I'll leave the old one in whenever I put a new one.

Also would putting more cartridges in help it cycle faster? Or adding other filter material like filter floss in addition to the cartridge that is there?

 

would putting more cartridges in help it cycle faster? Or adding other filter material like filter floss in addition to the cartridge that is there?

Nope, the amount of media generally doesn't matter, but rather the amount of surface area the media has.

 

It only came with one cartridge so I'm not sure how many it can fit, but it looks like multiple should so I'll leave the old one in whenever I put a new one.

Also would putting more cartridges in help it cycle faster? Or adding other filter material like filter floss in addition to the cartridge that is there?

add a sponge filter to your tank and wait 3-6 weeks for bacteria to seed on it then you should be able to change out your cartridge as you like without disturbing the cycle to much

 

Ok good to know. Thank you! I'm so impressed by how fast people answer questions here, it helps so much when I'm reading reading reading but there is so much to learn it can get confusing. I really appreciate this forum!

Multiple people mentioned sponge filters, I will definitely check them out next time I'm at my local fish store.

 

Ok good to know. Thank you! I'm so impressed by how fast people answer questions here, it helps so much when I'm reading reading reading but there is so much to learn it can get confusing. I really appreciate this forum!

Multiple people mentioned sponge filters, I will definitely check them out next time I'm at my local fish store.

try to get one with smaller pores since they can contain more beneficial bacteria per square inch

 

When I had an Aqueon filter, I just cut a slit in the cartridge in order to dump the carbon out. The reason for dumping out the carbon is that after about 4 weeks it becomes saturated and stops removing impurities. Once the carbon is out of the cartridge, you can then wash out the cartridge in some dirty tank water along with your weekly water change. You can then keep usinmg the cartridge until it falls apart. Then once it has fallen apart, strip the floss of the frame and stuff it behind a new cartridge (that has has the carbon removed). Leave it there for about 4 weeks, at which point the new cartridge should be well seeded with bacteria.

As far as carbon, it's not a must use product, so you can either choose to not use it, or put some loose carbon in a media bag and try to fit it into the filter (not easy with the Aqueons.

One thing I want to mention is that Aqueon claims that you can just replace the filter monthly because the bacteria will actually live on that blue piece of plastic that the cartridge slides into. I never trusted/believed that to be true, so I never tried it.

But for myself, I never cared much for the Aqueon filter (but it came with the tank) so I added an AquaClear (I think they are being sold as Fluval AquaClear filters now) and just ran both. The AquaClear is my favorite HOB filter. It has a separate sponge for course filtration (which never needs replacing), a bag of carbon (which gets replace monthly if you choose to use carbon, which I do) and a bag of ceramic media which houses the beneficial bacteria and never needs to be replaced.

 

I have an hob for my 10 gallon and it only has 1 filter cartridge. I can add new carbon to mine, but I also keep filter floss behind it and a cut shirt of carbon in front of it. I change the carbon sheet out every other week and the carbon in the cartridge the following see. The sponge/filter floss that is behind it gets cleaned in tank water and replaced only when it falls apart the same as the cartridge bag.

I'm not familiar with your type but it may be worth seeing if you can just add carbon in the cartridge.