Filter question???

[NEWBEE FISH]

I bought one of those Aqueon 5gallon starter tanks with a mini filter and light that came with the tank also i have one of those hydor mini heater... the question is i bought the tank 2 1/2 weeks ago and now the filter is all brown and the waterfall it use to have is coming off the side of the overflow.. is this normal? should i change the filter?

[Capricorn]

You can try just rinsing the filter gently in dechlorinated water to see if that helps. Don't wash it too much or you'll lose whatever good bacteria you had in there.

[NEWBEE FISH]

Thats what i wanted to ask but totally forgot about the good bacteria... ill try that.. THANK YOU.. When should i really change the filter?

[Capricorn]

I don't think you do...?

I'm not sure, I haven't kept my tank running for long enough to find out. I think they tell you to change it every month as a ploy to get you to spend more.. they can last much longer than that.

[vaygirl]

You really don't have to change them. I never change mine. Just give it a rinse and swish in dechlorinated water (or old tank water) and you should be good to go.

[NEWBEE FISH]

I kinda thought that too. how they want you to buy more and more... i got a male betta VT with 3 ghost shrimp and a couple of those betta bulp plants just started to grow... i thought maybe cause i have hard water in my area so that why my filters that color... but if nothing to be worried about... Thanks for your help...