Maybe Stupid Question- Filter Cartridges

Hello all, I am recently using a new type of filter and I have a question about filter cartridges. This may be a bit of a silly, or plain stupid, question but do I actually need to throw away and replace a filter cartridge every month like the box says, or should I just rinse it out like you would a sponge filter instead? I ask because I am worried about my nitrogen cycle and I would think replacing filter cartridges every month would be a bad idea because wouldn't I have to restart my cycle every month?

 

My filter cartridge filled up in almost 2 weeks. Hopefully because it’s new. I rinsed mine with tank water as suggested by many.

 

Yes do exactly what you do with the sponge filter. You Do Not need to throw it away until its broken or getting worn out. Could last years. just swish it in clean tank water. Yes it will affect your cycle if you did throw it away every month.

 

Yes do exactly what you do with the sponge filter. You Do Not need to throw it away until its broken or getting worn out. Could last years. just swish it in clean tank water. Yes it will affect your cycle if you did throw it away every month.

That's what I thought, thank you for the advice!

 

Depends on whether it has carbon in it, which may leach back into the water once it is 'full'. Filter cartridges often have carbon in them. You could replace it entirely with sponge and bio media.

 

Depends on whether it has carbon in it, which may leach back into the water once it is 'full'. Filter cartridges often have carbon in them. You could replace it entirely with sponge and bio media.

Or just cut a hole and take the carbon out. If you don't need it.

 

Depends on whether it has carbon in it, which may leach back into the water once it is 'full'. Filter cartridges often have carbon in them. You could replace it entirely with sponge and bio media.

I am think they have carbon in them, the website said that they did. How would I replace the cartridge with a sponge and bio media?

 

Or, better yet, you can buy Aquaclear filter sponges for less than $10, cut them to size, put them into your filter, and have an everlasting piece of bio media. Works in any HOB (or internal filter), and honestly, it's kinda the first thing I recommend to people when they come into the store asking about their filters.

 

Or, better yet, you can buy Aquaclear filter sponges for less than $10, cut them to size, put them into your filter, and have an everlasting piece of bio media. Works in any HOB (or internal filter), and honestly, it's kinda the first thing I recommend to people when they come into the store asking about their filters.

I just looked at it on Amazon, and I think I found what you are talking about. Is this it?

 

Yes! That's exactly it. It's basically just a porous foam that lasts a long time and works well for growing BB. I've had some of them for years, and while they do eventually deteriorate, they last MUCH longer than a filter pad.

 

Yes! That's exactly it. It's basically just a porous foam that lasts a long time and works well for growing BB. I've had some of them for years, and while they do eventually deteriorate, they last MUCH longer than a filter pad.

I will try them! Thank you so much for the tip, I really appreciate it!

 

Hello all, I am recently using a new type of filter and I have a question about filter cartridges. This may be a bit of a silly, or plain stupid, question but do I actually need to throw away and replace a filter cartridge every month like the box says, or should I just rinse it out like you would a sponge filter instead? I ask because I am worried about my nitrogen cycle and I would think replacing filter cartridges every month would be a bad idea because wouldn't I have to restart my cycle every month?

Well just to let you know millions of people change cartridges every day without issue. The problem is cost. Need to get away from the replaceable cartridges. Read here how...

Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters

 

If you still want to use the cartridges with carbon, stores sell carbon separately. I think Walmart has them for around $4. Your cycle doesn't necessarily restart when you change cartridges. If you have substrate, bacteria also hangs around there too.

Like others are saying, there really isn't a problem switching the cartridges except for the cost. I have a tetra whisper filter and decided to not use the carbon cartridges for now. So I bought a bonded filter pad that I can cut to a desirable size and a box of Fluval ceramic rings. The filter media going on the bottom, ceramic rings on top.

If you want to go with sponge filters, I'm currently using this one (link below). It looks like they up the price by $2, but that one has the supplies you need, except for an air pump of course. Works well, but if you want to spend a few extra dollars there are duo versions that happen to be better.

 

I like to cut out the stock filter material in the cartridge. Then I cut bulk blue white filter material to size and rubber band a few layers to the catridge.

 

Only one of my filters had a cartridge ( Aqueon Aquaspring 8.8) I took the carbon out by making a small slice and banging it around it a trash barrel and just wrap it with polyfill. Then when the polyfill gets "mucked up" I cut a fresh piece and leave some of the old or just wring it out in some tank water and use it a couple times Then put a fresh piece of polyfill in front of the old and when it comes time I just rotate the pieces and throw a little of the old old old polyfill away and repeat.

 

Or, better yet, you can buy Aquaclear filter sponges for less than $10, cut them to size, put them into your filter, and have an everlasting piece of bio media. Works in any HOB (or internal filter), and honestly, it's kinda the first thing I recommend to people when they come into the store asking about their filters.

I would have to disagree with the "works in any HOB" aspect of this. Some are reasonably well designed to accommodate alternative media. Others depend on the cartridges to maintain proper flow through the filter. The filters that can be easily filled with your media of choice tend to cost more up front, but are likely far cheaper in the long run, particularly when compared to one that depends on the cartridge for proper flow.

 

Which ones are you speaking of? Not saying you're wrong, just haven't encountered any that didn't work with the sponge.

I've used Top Fin, Aqueon, Marineland, Tetra, and Aquaclear (duh) HOBs with them with no issues. Same goes for internal filters from Top Fin and Tetra.

 

I don't recall the models. There are a few where the water enters from the side and depends on a vertical plane cartridge to allow the water to have good access to the full surface area of the media. These seem to be the cheaper ones. Basically the first cartridge leaves an open area between the back of the media chamber and the media itself. This make it so the rather narrow opening between the pump chamber and the media chamber doesn't really matter because the water can readily flow across the whole back of the chamber and then forward through the entire surface of the filter media.

If you just cram foam in there without that divider maintaining the separation from the back of the chamber you're going to have a rather narrow section of foam that's filtering all of the water and it's going to clog very quickly. If you figure out a way to keep the divider and work the foam into the scenario, then it's okay, but I've seen a few where that's almost impossible because there's so little room. I distinctly recall spending 20 minutes looking up photos of a filter someone was asking about and coming to the disappointing conclusion that the only viable alternatives were living with the cartridges or buying a different filter.

The better HOBs, like the Tidal series and the AquaClears, have a mechanism for forcing the water into the bottom of the media chamber and then having it flow upward through the media. This allows you to fairly easily use any media you want because there's an even flow in a clear order.