Cleaning New Filter

[fez1234]

I've got a fluval 205 filter in a 33g tank, i started off with 5 white cloud mountain minrrows and then got 4 tiger barbs, the tank has been up about 5-6 ish weeks and is still going through its cycle as nitrate is still being dected, I am doing water changes and keeping feeding down to a minimum, My question is should I clean the filter, gravel and decorations(some of the plants have bits of algae on them) after the cycle is complete or meanwhile?

 

[waterdrop]

Did you mean nitrite(NO2) or nitrate(NO3)? Nitrate(NO3) is not expected to go down, the goal with nitrate is to adjust your weekly water changes to be large enough that it does not creep upward over time. In different tanks it can be anywhere from zero to 40ppm and any of those is ok if its steady and not creeping up. A pretty normal amount is 10 to 20ppm -above- whatever the tap water nitrate level is.

Nitrate, while not particularly a good thing, is tolerated by many fish up to as much as 400ppm and some river catfish are known to tolerate 1000ppm. On the other hand, there are some fish, GBRs (German Blue Rams) for instance, that are sensitive to it and need pretty low levels.

Ammonia and nitrite(NO2) of course should always be kept at zero ppm if at all possible.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fez1234]

Sorry i got mixed up with the two then i was ment to say Nitrite

 

[ZoddyZod]

I wouldn't clean the external now as you are still in the cycle. In fact, I'd only ever clean it when you start to notice a reduction of flow. I give my 305 a clean about once every 4 months, and even then it doesn't really 'need' it.

 

[fez1234]

I was thinking that would be about right, thanks