Hey i was wondering if you HAD to change your filters every month? If so do you have to cycle your tank to re-grow the bacteria in the filter?

OK, I need a bit more of an explanation... What filters do you have?

sorry its not the whole filter im talkin about changin its just the filter cartriges. Im not sure the exact name of the filter. But it has two pretty large cartriges in it.

OK, what you need to do is change one filter pad at a time.. Yes the good bacteria will have to replace it's self, but that is why you only change one pad at a time.

not sure of the exact filter you are talking about but i would stagger the changing of them so you dont eliminate your entire population of bb (beneficial bacteria) all at once.

but i still want to find out why the need to replace it monthly?

it is better to change the water 90% one time without touching the
filter at all unless it is clogged than replacing the filter for
no apparent reason.

I think he is talking about an HOB filter; and the manual usually says to change cartridges every month or so. But I agree, you would lose much of the good bacteria. I like the staggering idea.

I bought some new filters and I worked so hard at getting my tank cycled I never installed them instead I just washed my exsisting filters in my dirty fish water when I did cleaning

Yes. Always wash them in a bucket of fish tank water NEVER...tap water. Then discard this bucket of water. This will keep the BB (biological bacteria). With what I have read when u r cleaning ur filters, only make sure your filters are not clogged. Removing enough of the debris so as not to allow clogging.