Fishkeeping - Filter Media

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Hi all,

I am using an Emperor filter with Emperor Ready-To-Use filter cartridges.
According to the directions you should change them every two to four weeks.
Does anyone just rinse them out and us them for a longer period of time?

--
Celtic Wanderer
http://home.comcast.net/~Celtic_wanderer

I always rinse mine out and reuse. I don't replace them unless they are
falling apart, or I have had some sort of disease in the tank. They work
just fine.

Sarah

"Celtic Wanderer" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I am using an Emperor filter with Emperor Ready-To-Use filter cartridges.
According to the directions you should change them every two to four
weeks.
Does anyone just rinse them out and us them for a longer period of time?

--
Celtic Wanderer
http://home.comcast.net/~Celtic_wanderer

"Celtic Wanderer" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I am using an Emperor filter with Emperor Ready-To-Use filter cartridges.
According to the directions you should change them every two to four
weeks.
Does anyone just rinse them out and us them for a longer period of time?

--
Celtic Wanderer
http://home.comcast.net/~Celtic_wanderer
I changed mine after a year ... the things were getting ratty. 3 weeks
later I cut the bottom to dump the carbon and put it back in. Rinse and
reuse as long as they work.
Bob

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic Wanderer

I have not come across the Emperor filter, but changing filter media every 2 weeks is not good as no time is given for the benificial bacteria to grow. If the carts. do not contain carbon then there is no reason why you shouldn't rinse them in water taken from the tank (not tap water) and continue to use them for many months. If there is more than 1 cartridge then alternate replacement thus keeping a mature filter media for converting nitrites.
If carbon is present then this is only active for around 14 days after which it may start to leach back the impurities it has taken from the water. Maybe it is posible the strip the cartriges remove the carbon and replace with a different material? then it would only need replacing after 4- 6 months!
Steve