Lighting And Filter Cleaning.

[NickT24]

Hello all,

Just a couple of quick questions that are probably common knowledge to most. How often should my tank light be on? And how should I clean the filter so not to restart the cycling process?

Thanks in advance.

Nick!

 

[aluno]

Most books will tell you light should be on aobut 12-14 hours a day but it isnt essential to the fish's survival,

as for cleaning the filter material, ive read that it should be swilled out in the tank water and then put back in but i always place my filter in the net, then pull it out of the water to get rid of all the large debris then try and wash the filter material in the tank, makes the tank cloudy for a little while but its fine thereafter, i then do regular cleans with a syphon filter and use a little bacteria booster every other week,

works for me, im sure these guys will give ou lots more advice though

 

[jennybugs]

If you wash your filter media in the tank you're just putting all the waste products that the filter has trapped back into the tank.

Give your filter sponge a squish out in a bucket of old tank water. That way you're preserving the good bacteria but getting rid of the gunk/waste materials and not depositing it back in the tank again

I have my lighting on for 12 hours a day as my plants like it, but it's not essential for the fish's well-being. Some people may find that 12 hours of light sets the aglae off on a rampage. It's best to find a time that suits your tank and plants best.

 

[aluno]

sorry meant in the net in the tank, realised my wording is a bit screwed, sowi

 

[jennybugs]

Ah, that's ok then! I was getting worried It's still kinda putting the crud from the filter back into the tank though....if you think about it

 

[NickT24]

So I don't need to give it a full clean just a squeeze to get rid of all the disgusting bits?

Wasn't sure if gloomyness made fish sad or not, lol. Mine is on quite often but I do have good natural light too. Not got any plants yet but maybe from tomorrow I shall.

 

[CrashingWaves]

This is just kind of random and I'm just kind of popping in to say, it's easier to preserve good bacterial by not having worry about it living so much in the filters. It's worth the money to have a filter with bio-wheels.

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[SuperColey1]

I dont think they're talking about bacteria, more the deetritus that gathers up in the filter material. The bacteria will remain there once this is squeezed out.

Particularly important for internal filters because they tend to get clogged quicker.

My external is cleaned every 4-6 weeks.


Photoperiod is not a fixed thing planted or not planted.

Some people with plants just use 4-5 hours of very high light and off for the rest of the day. Others use 12 hours.

If you are planted then between these 2 figures is OK more than 12 and you WILL get algae no question. Less than 4 and the plants will not get enough light.

I personally run for 10 hours with the 2 central hours having a noon burst.

Andy

 

[NickT24]

Thanks all, I think i'm getting the hang of some of this!