Filter Cleaning

[andyboy!!]

Hi

What's the best method for cleaning the sponge inside the filter?

Obviously I will use aquarium water, but;

Some people say to just swill it around in there so the good bacteria doesn't get removed.

Others say to give it a good squeeze, but this would get rid of the bacteria???

Mine does get a bit slimey and swilling it doesn't seem to get rid of it all, but its a pretty new aquarium so I don't want to loose all the bacteria.

Also how often should this be done. I've been told once a month.

And is this the only part of the filter that needs cleaning and eventually replacing.

Cheers
Andy.

 

[Phoenixfish]

id also like to know ive been told that you should squeeze it in your water change water and that i should replace it once it doesnt return to its proper shape but then again i could be wrong

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. How many filter cartridges are in your filter or is it all one piece of media like in an external filter? If you have a filter with more than one cartridge you can do one at a time and then do the other one the next month etc. If it is all one piece i would give it a swish and a couple gentle squeezes and that's about it. I would think it would take a lot of gunk to completely clog it. I don't even worry about my cartridges very much. They don't seem to get very gunky at all. Try not to feed too much, and if you aren't terribly overstocked and do regular water changes, then you shouldn't have to worry about it too much.
You'll also want to clean the inside of the filter itself, and in and around the impeller (the thing that spins to pull the water into the filter). Over time algae will grow in there and may slow the impeller. You may have to take a couple pieces out of the filter to do this. Just make sure to test the water for a few days if you get really conscientious when cleaning the filter media.

 

[Trance2006]

Give it a few hard squeezes whilst swishing it around. This will get that gunky slime off.