Filter questions/water changes

[Trevor]

Thanks for all the help so far!! I am sure there will be many more to come.....

Anways, I was wondering about hob filters. I have read how some of you dont change the carbon. The reason for it makes sense. You dont change it so bacteria can thrive on it and that helps your tank. To rinse it off or "clean it" you wash it in the tank which makes sense also. Any advice or thoughts on this would be great. I just want to hear more ideas about it and to make sure I understand it correctly. Also there is bio-sponge for aqauclear. Would I just leave that in and never change it? For cleaning the water, you do water changes to clean the water. I mean, you clean the gravel or sand and clean the filter. (not doing them all at once so you dont get a mini cycle) I'm just trying to get a precise picture on things. So you would test the water and based upon the readings you do the water change based on those as well? Is this correct?
I tried looking for this info here but to no avail. Last question: What should the water parameters look like before bringing the little Fahaka puffer home. 0 on all readings? When he does(i know I lied about the last question but there racing around in my head) get home I should have the same water hardness as in his/her bag?

Thanks!!!

[Pufferpunk]

Start out by reading the Fishless Cycling article in our Library.