Thanks waterdog that is the same tank I have I really like it. I will replace it in a day or two that really scared me I had never thought is could leek out anything bad is not replaced, I have always heard not to replace it cause of the BB. I did just not take it out and run conditioned water over it till the water came out clean but getting a new one as soon as I can get to the pet shop...thanks so much for the info !!!!
i have the same problem as perseusmom but no biowheel... i put some sponge in there a couple weeks back but the filter didn't come with any in it that i can see. can i just cut the filter bag open, remove the carbon and keep using it like that? it seems like regular filter material on the outside.
Mushumouse I have heard some people on the forum say they have done just that but wait for others to answer as I am not sure myself how that would work out. I hve also heard you dont really need the carbon at all so that is one reason I stopped replacing my carbon filter and also that is holds some BB. So confusing and I am a great worrier over everything when it comes to the health of my fish Perseus he is my lil bud I want him and his water safe as possible !!!!
Thanks waterdog that is the same tank I have I really like it. I will replace it in a day or two that really scared me I had never thought is could leek out anything bad is not replaced, I have always heard not to replace it cause of the BB. I did just not take it out and run conditioned water over it till the water came out clean but getting a new one as soon as I can get to the pet shop...thanks so much for the info !!!!
I love mine too! I hope one day to replace all my smaller betta tanks with this one!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mushumouse
i have the same problem as perseusmom but no biowheel... i put some sponge in there a couple weeks back but the filter didn't come with any in it that i can see. can i just cut the filter bag open, remove the carbon and keep using it like that? it seems like regular filter material on the outside.
You could, but IMO you should not have to go through all that effort. In a cycled tank you have BB on everything, walls, gravel, decorations, the filter housing, etc. Replacing the filter should not cause a problem.
thanks, waterdog. unfortunately my tank is only in the process of cycling so i'm trying to leave as much in as possible right now! however it's good to know i can get rid of it after (if) it's done.
There is BB on everything, but a whole ton of it is in your filter, on the filter media (floss, filter cartridge, whatever). Do not replace the whole cartridge. You don't need carbon anyway...all it does is remove meds if you're using them or takes out colors/smells that prolly shouldn't be there anyway.
What I did was cut the filter floss open, remove the carbon (yeah, a mess), and then shove the empty floss cartidge back into the filter. I do not intend to replace the cartridge until the floss is falling apart, but I do clean it regularly by swishing it around in old tank water.
I really think stating that cartridges need to be replaced so often is a scam so you'll buy more of them. It actually hurts your fish to be removing so much BB so often.
I really think stating that cartridges need to be replaced so often is a scam so you'll buy more of them. It actually hurts your fish to be removing so much BB so often.
WOW, really?
1) I don't sell filters so why would I want to make someone buy more?
2) NO it does not hurt the fish to change the filters. I do it once a month in 5 tanks with no ill effects.
3) Carbon does do more than take meds out of water. It dechlorinates, (thus it is in RO units which I have) and purifies.
I think people need to offer more experiences and stop trying to make people think their way is the only way.
Sorry, I just hate it when people try to scare new keepers and are rude to other members, which IMO that post was.
I appologize for going off mushumouse and Perseusmom.
Waterdog, I'm fairly sure Bethy's comment was aimed at petshops, not you. Chill. 8D
In the vast majority of tanks, I completely agree with Bethy - carbon is unnecessary and it is safe to remove it. I can't comment on RO water, but with normal water, it isn't removing anything that you don't want, and may remove things that you do. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't remove chlorine (which is why you need a dechlorinator on that) but I'm prepared to be corrected if that is not the case.
As Bethy said, the majority of BB is in the filter, so a tank may experience a mini-cycle when it is removed or changed. Always a good idea to seed the new filter media in the tank first. You may not notice any ill effects, but there is probably a little surge in ammonia and nitrite levels which will calm down quickly. :)
Oh my! I didn't mean to be rude or anything! Please, that's not my intent at all. I don't think I could be rude even if I tried, I'm a softy for sure.
I certainly didn't direct my sentence about changing filters at anyone on here. But I will stand by my statement that most filters don't need carbon on a regular basis. I do not run it in my seven filters at all....well, I did to clear out meds, that's it.
I don't know anything about RO water at all, so that may be a different ballgame. But, if you don't NEED carbon, and it's a pain to remember when to change it and possibly bad if you have to take the whole cartridge out, then why do it? There are many ways to keep fish, yes, but I think we'd all like to make it as easy and safe as possible, right?
ANOTHER NOTE: I used to change filter cartridges with regularity. And had fish stress and death I didn't understand. Now I do...it can cause a mini cycle. I have been there, and done that, and it's much better now that I've stopped that. I just wanna help...
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