How quick must one clean filter?

[bogusmove]

I noticed a sticker on the side of my filter which suggests the "weekly filter maintenance" should be conducted within 2 minutes...

I had rather thought that one had a little more time than that as a rule. Presumably bacteria can die both from filter medium drying out and from starvation... but how long does one have before it becomes a probem?

Also, whatout turning off your filter, for convenience when doing a water change or cleaning, etc... how long before you risk losing your bio filter?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

there are many variables, but I can tell you that in the span that it takes even a slow mover to clean a filter you will not lose bacteria. Keep it wet and it will last a good while. I know that bacteria still soaked in aquairum water can last for hours in some cases.

 

[Losi]

When I clean out my external filter I put all the media in the water that I have just removed from the tank.
I never rush cleaning the media and so it usually takes about 20 minutes and I have never had any problems!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi bogusmove

Don't worry about it. It's not likely that you will have any trouble. As long as the media is wet and has some oxygen, it will survive.

Even if the worst happens and the bacteria in your filter dies, it will quickly repopulate it just as it does when you have to take out the old filter media an put in new.

BTW, you don't take the filter off and wash it (the filter, itself) out every week, do you?

 

[bogusmove]

Thanks all, sounds like I don't need to worry at all. Strange sticker!!

BTW, you don't take the filter off and wash it (the filter, itself) out every week, do you?

Nah, it's just that the sticker says "weekly maintenance" and the 2 minutes thing got me thinking... and that usually seems to mean worrying at the moment, hehe

I was planning on rinsing the filter medium every month, and the tank is a month old now Woohoo!

 

[Phantom Thief]

Hey all,

So in the end, how often should you rinse filter media?

P.T.

 

[smb]

Hey all,

So in the end, how often should you rinse filter media?

P.T.

You can do it as often as you like as long as you rinse it with the tankwater you take out. There's no set answer and it's different for everyone. It depends on the bioload of your aquarium. If an exact time had to be given I would say twice a month. I do mine once a week.

 

[Inchworm]

..So in the end, how often should you rinse filter media?

Hi Phantom Thief

When it gets dirty......

But, seriously, a little gunk in the media is not a bad thing. The filter media is just a bunch of fibers woven or pressed together with spaces in between them. If you think about the size of the spaces clean as compared to their size when they're a little dirty, you'll realize that they're a little smaller and able to filter out particles in the water that just floated through when the filter was newly cleaned.

Of course, beyond a certain point they become clogged and won't let the water pass through, so the most efficient filtration is somewhere between clean and clogged.

 

[wuvmybetta]

excellent question bogus!
I was actually wondering sort of the same thing myself earlier this evening. I did some filter trading amongst my tanks and ended up with an extra penguin 170,it's now sitting on my counter, bio-wheel and all, I wonder how long a bio-wheel will house beneficial bacteria ,but atm I have no where to put it

 

[smb]

I wonder how long a bio-wheel will house beneficial bacteria

You never need to rinse the biowheel.

 

[wuvmybetta]

True, but what happens if it sits on the counter for a couple of hours? With no water movement?

I went and put it on the tank in my bedroom a few minutes ago, as a pre-caution

 

[CFC]

I just rinse my filter media when there is a noticable drop in water flow, on some tanks this maybe monthly on others it may be 3 monthly.