Right Way To Clean Your Filter
- Thread starter kreativ
- Start date
What media do you have in your filter?
In my case, the only thing I really do is remove the sponges. Then dip them in a bucket of tank water (to just refresh, not to scrub). Then either give my filter wool a jolly good scrub or replace it
In my case, the only thing I really do is remove the sponges. Then dip them in a bucket of tank water (to just refresh, not to scrub). Then either give my filter wool a jolly good scrub or replace it
mark.w.jones
Fish Herder
Is it a canister, a HOB (Hang on back), an internal, built into the hood or an Under Gravel Filter. Makes quite a difference to maintainance.
Chrispixx
Fish Crazy
When you do a water change use a clean bucket, preferably one only used for fish stuff. Fill it halfway with aquarium water then swish your filter sponges in the water. I do this once a month, i even squeeze the sponges slightly and haven't had any problems. But i also have filters with bio wheels.
Chrispixx
Fish Crazy
See above...Post #5 (the post before yours) i dont know how you missed it.
Hero
Fish Fanatic
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I'm not to sure how I missed it either... I apologize.
mark.w.jones
Fish Herder
Most filters contain a mixture of the following.
1st usually filter wool. Quite fine. Filters out partical matter as soon as water enters filter. MAINTAINANCE: Squeeze out weekly in old tank water. Replace when falling apart or completely clogged.
2nd usually filter sponge. Sometimes just a fine sponge material sometimes a coarse and a fine sponge, depends on type of filter. MAINTAINANCE: Squeeze out monthly in old tank water or when completely clogged up. Dont over clean as some or your beneficial bacteria hang out here.
3rd usually carbon filter material. Not generally needed unless you want to remove medication or dicolouration from your water. Most people here replace this with more sponge or wool.
4th usually your media. Ceramic tubes or such like. Most of you beneficial bacteria hang out here. MAINTAINANCE: leave well alone. If they start to fall apart (takes years) then replace but only about a third at time and leave the new stuff in for a week or so to be colonised with bacteria b4 replacing the next third.
I clean my tank out weekly but then it's small and more prone to water quality issues. You may get away with a good clean fortnightly and water changes weekly.
My Maintainance Routine Weekly:
1. Switch off filter.
2. Remove large rocks / logs
3. Trim plants.
4. Siphon gravel + remove 20% of water with am Interpet gravel vac.
(Keep this water in bucket for cleaning filter wool and sponges)
5. Squeeze out filter wool in old tank water. Don't overclean it though as this is where the a lot of your bacteria hang out. Gunk is good.
6. Clean off worst of algae on glass and other bits, spray bar etc. with algae scaper.
7. Kill as many snails as possible.
8. Replace anything removed earlier.
9. Replace water with dechlorinated tap water. To warm this up either stick a spare heater in a bucket a few hours b4, microwave 3l sqaush bottles to warm your cold up or possibly add water boiled in kettle to cold to bring the temp up. (be aware of limescale thou.)
10. Clean evaporation cover below tank light.
11. Dose liquid fertiliser.
12. Clean outside of tank.
MONTHLY
1. Squeeze out filter sponges in old tank water. Again don't over do it.
2. More thorough clean.
EVERY 3 - 4 MONTHS
1. Take apart as much of filter as possible and clean thoroughly with old tank water.
Only replace filter sponges and wool if they are falling apart and even then only replace a third or so at a time and leave for a week or so before adding more.
Hope that helps. Lengthier than I was expecting.
1st usually filter wool. Quite fine. Filters out partical matter as soon as water enters filter. MAINTAINANCE: Squeeze out weekly in old tank water. Replace when falling apart or completely clogged.
2nd usually filter sponge. Sometimes just a fine sponge material sometimes a coarse and a fine sponge, depends on type of filter. MAINTAINANCE: Squeeze out monthly in old tank water or when completely clogged up. Dont over clean as some or your beneficial bacteria hang out here.
3rd usually carbon filter material. Not generally needed unless you want to remove medication or dicolouration from your water. Most people here replace this with more sponge or wool.
4th usually your media. Ceramic tubes or such like. Most of you beneficial bacteria hang out here. MAINTAINANCE: leave well alone. If they start to fall apart (takes years) then replace but only about a third at time and leave the new stuff in for a week or so to be colonised with bacteria b4 replacing the next third.
I clean my tank out weekly but then it's small and more prone to water quality issues. You may get away with a good clean fortnightly and water changes weekly.
My Maintainance Routine Weekly:
1. Switch off filter.
2. Remove large rocks / logs
3. Trim plants.
4. Siphon gravel + remove 20% of water with am Interpet gravel vac.
(Keep this water in bucket for cleaning filter wool and sponges)
5. Squeeze out filter wool in old tank water. Don't overclean it though as this is where the a lot of your bacteria hang out. Gunk is good.
6. Clean off worst of algae on glass and other bits, spray bar etc. with algae scaper.
7. Kill as many snails as possible.
8. Replace anything removed earlier.
9. Replace water with dechlorinated tap water. To warm this up either stick a spare heater in a bucket a few hours b4, microwave 3l sqaush bottles to warm your cold up or possibly add water boiled in kettle to cold to bring the temp up. (be aware of limescale thou.)
10. Clean evaporation cover below tank light.
11. Dose liquid fertiliser.
12. Clean outside of tank.
MONTHLY
1. Squeeze out filter sponges in old tank water. Again don't over do it.
2. More thorough clean.
EVERY 3 - 4 MONTHS
1. Take apart as much of filter as possible and clean thoroughly with old tank water.
Only replace filter sponges and wool if they are falling apart and even then only replace a third or so at a time and leave for a week or so before adding more.
Hope that helps. Lengthier than I was expecting.
vinylman
Essentially Humanoid
If you only turn the filter off while you're doing tank maintenance or cleaning the filter itself, it'll be fine.
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