Question about HOB filters

[Steve]

I have a question for those of you that use small HOB filters. On both my 55g tanks I have canisters so this was never an issue, but on my 10g Beta/Cory cat tank I just have a little Tetra 5-15g HOB that just uses one of the slide in filter cartridges. It's been about 2-3 months that it has been running so while out at Walmart today I picked up a new filter cartridge for it. I started thinking just a bit ago as I was about to change it....if I put a new one in there isn't that gonna send the tank into a mini cycle? What do you guys that use a HOB on small tanks do for filter maintenance?

[Regalblue]

I'd just make sure it's as long as possible from a water change & stir up the substrate a bit, getting some junk in the filter pad to seed it.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I'd just make sure it's as long as possible from a water change & stir up the substrate a bit, getting some junk in the filter pad to seed it.

I have a Cascade 300 and a AC 30 running on one of my 55 tanks,  but instead of using those disposable filter pads, I replaced them with a sponge (AC 110 sponge) cut to fit inside.  I also put on the bottom of each of the filters some matrix, that way I am getting the best of both worlds from my HOB....I have to thank RICHE for this idea...

[Regalblue]

I'd just make sure it's as long as possible from a water change & stir up the substrate a bit, getting some junk in the filter pad to seed it.

I have a Cascade 300 and a AC 30 running on one of my 55 tanks,  but instead of using those disposable filter pads, I replaced them with a sponge (AC 110 sponge) cut to fit inside.  I also put on the bottom of each of the filters some matrix, that way I am getting the best of both worlds from my HOB....I have to thank RICHE for this idea...

Yes, ideally you would want two filters running on any given tank.(or other tanks/filters  to steal BB from) That way you can wipe out the Bio on one without risking crashing the tank.
 But, telling the OP what you have going does not help their question /situation. 
(Sorry for being a Koch, but...) Should my original reply been... "I have 30+ tanks running,  I just tank BB harboring media & seed the new tank"?  No

Steve,  I'd suggest giving you a dirty bomb from one of my sponges. But, IMO all that will do is clog up your new filter cartridge & leave you having to buy an another new one. 

So, I'd just use the method I posted above & keep an eye on parameters.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Yeah just follow what he said....Blair always has the best answers...

[Ron]

IIRC the Tetra filters evolved from their purchase of Whisper. Whisper filters had this issue (no separate biomedia) and eventually introduced an open-cell sponge to go between the cartridge and the outlet, which would persist some of the bacteria colony between cartridge changes. You might look into adding something similar if you have room.

Another solution was to skip using the (relatively) expensive cartridges. I'd just wade a bunch of filter floss (which can be found cheaper at craft stores - just make sure it's non-allergenic, 100% poly and non-treated with chemicals against rot, etc). I'd stuff a handful, but not enough that it could clog and backup the filter causing an overflow. Then when the day came to change the filter floss, picking a cleaner portion of the floss to reuse (slightly discolored (AKA bacteria), but not full of waste food/poop) in addition to adding new.

[GrizzlysDad]

IIRC the Tetra filters evolved from their purchase of Whisper. Whisper filters had this issue (no separate biomedia) and eventually introduced an open-cell sponge to go between the cartridge and the outlet, which would persist some of the bacteria colony between cartridge changes. You might look into adding something similar if you have room.

Another solution was to skip using the (relatively) expensive cartridges. I'd just wade a bunch of filter floss (which can be found cheaper at craft stores - just make sure it's non-allergenic, 100% poly and non-treated with chemicals against rot, etc). I'd stuff a handful, but not enough that it could clog and backup the filter causing an overflow. Then when the day came to change the filter floss, picking a cleaner portion of the floss to reuse (slightly discolored (AKA bacteria), but not full of waste food/poop) in addition to adding new.

You might actually still find the bio sponge for the older Whisper filters...Rich E might even have one somewhere...I might even have one....somewhere.

p.s. Steve, I'll PM you later today on those other two filters 

[Ron]

You might actually still find the bio sponge for the older Whisper filters...Rich E might even have one somewhere...I might even have one....somewhere.

I've got some still in my basement, but I can't part with them because I've still got some old school Whispers that they go with. 

[theoryguru]

I run an AC 20 and a Fluval 1 in my 10g.  I rinse the Fluval sponge bi-weekly and rinse the AC media 1x month
In most of my filters I use blue coarse sponge (stuff used for HVAC) cut to size and ceramic rings.
Along with weekly WC I haven't had any issues with my maintenance schedule.