water/filter change?

[bunnyl99]

Is it ever ok to change the filter & do a water change at the same time? I have been told I'd be losing too much beneficial bacteria? I do 10% monthly water changes & was thinking of cleaning my filter every 4-5 mos?

 

[cartman101]

i would change your filters every month depending on what filter u have

 

[hot883]

I use to have 2 hob bio filters on my 55. What I would do is; The filter on the left would get fresh filters, I would take the old filters out of there and rinse them out in salt water then place them in the filter to the right. The ones from the right filter would get thrown away. I did this every 2 weeks according to the manufacture recomendation.
I NEVER DISTURBED THE BIO MESH, just changed out the carbon filter pads. HTH

 

[bunnyl99]

I have a XP3 cannister filter

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by bunnyl99
I have a XP3 cannister filter
Not sure about the canister type, did the instructions give you any guide lines? Regardless, I don't see why you couldn't change water and filters since the water really holds little bacteria since you are only changing a little.

 

[bunnyl99]

Don't have any instructions, I had LFS guy come & set it up for me. He said I couldn't do a water change + filter in the same month cause it would upset the bacteria?

 

[salty tank]

i read changing the filter is good by the manufacture (every month or so). Of course they want you to buy more and more of their carbon pads. I was told by a very intelligent person ot my LFS to change it every 6 months or so. He told me just to rinse out the pad once a month because it will get clogged. He said replacing the filter would lose way to much bacteria.

 

[aredmon]

I have a cannister filter and I do a 10% water change every 3-4 weeks and change the filter at the same time. I have not had a problem yet.

 

[bunnyl99]

do you just rinse the pads, or replace them? I do not run carbon all the time

 

[aredmon]

My filters have carben in them so I just like to replace them but you can most defenetly just wash them off with water if you like they will still block particals from getting back in the tank.