cleaning the filter

[floridalove]

back when i first posted in april someone told me never to change or clean the filter and i should wait untill its ripping apart to exchange it as this would cause my tank to start the cycle over. what is one supposed to do when the filter gets clogged and water starts overflowing in the filter? clean it with tap or just take a big cup full of tank water and try to rinse it off that way(which i dont understand cause you just puttin dirt back on it).

thanks

 

[Great Lakes]

You can put a new filter in,(preferably before the mentioned conditions occur), and put the old filter loosely behind it for a few days. The bacteria will quickly spread to the new filter.

GL

 

[lucky62]

what kind of filter is it ?, canister , hang on the back [ I guess ]........

some filters can be partially serviced . Meaning not everything at one time .

 

[floridalove]

the filter cartridges are the bags the fuzzy white ones.

 

[heresmike]

Hmmm.... whoever told you not to clean the filter IMO was wrong. True, you shouldn't over clean it or you'll risk destroying the bacteria that neutralizes the ammonia.

Is it a Whisper filter? Those have the "fuzzy white" bio-bags that handle the mechanical/chemical filtration, and are meant to be replaced periodically. Does it also have a bio-sponge of some sort? If so, this should not be changed as this contains the good bacteria. The sponge can be gently rinsed in tank water.

 

[Kirianna]

Is it a Whisper filter? Those have the "fuzzy white" bio-bags that handle the mechanical/chemical filtration, and are meant to be replaced periodically. Does it also have a bio-sponge of some sort? If so, this should not be changed as this contains the good bacteria. The sponge can be gently rinsed in tank water.

Hi,

I'm not the original poster but I have a question. I do have a whisper filter. When you ask if it has a bio-sponge, where do I find that to see if it does?

Thanks!

~Kirianna

 

[panther1505]

I've got a Whisper 60. My filter has 2 ports where the water overflows back into the tank from. Each one of those ports has it's own biobag, and foam, which I believe is call filter media. I'll refer to it as foam, since that is how you referred to it. You have to remove the cover of the filter box. Under the cover you will find the biobags, and in front of the biobags you will find the foam.
I am a newbie, but I have been reading a lot of articles, and getting a lot of information from this forum. I have been hearing and reading that you should not clean your filter(s) with tap water because you could very well wash away all the bacteria that is needed for a healthy environment for your fish. Take a portion of your tank water and rinse the filter components with that.

 

[WheelmanCA19]

I don't think its that the tap water washes away the bacteria, its more the chlorine in the water kills the bacteria that you need. Using old tank water seems like a good idea though.

 

[panther1505]

That's a good point. I didn't think about the chlorine in the water.
Now I have a couple of questions for anyone who would care to answer.

How often should I clean the biobags and filter media on my external filter?
How often should I vacuum my gravel? I've got a UGF.

 

[ger87410]

I rinse my filter media until there's less then a week until I need to rinse it again. Then I replace it. How often you need to vaccuum depends on how many and what type of fish you have. Oscars are about the dirtiest fish around, I have 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, and 2 plecos. I find I need to vaccuum every 2-3 weeks. What's a ugf?

 

[panther1505]

What do you mean by you clean the filter media until there's less then a week? Do you mean that you clean your filter media once a week?
Once I am finished cycling my tank I plan to put some Cory Cats, Tetras, Red Tail Sharks, Guppies, Goramis and a couple of Kuhli Loaches in my tank.
UGF = under gravel filter.

 

[andyM]

IMO cleaning the filer once a week is too often. I tend to clean my filer about every couple of months or sooner if the flow rate has slowed.