So, You Don't Think Filters Need Cleaning Regularly?

[stanleo]

I learned this lesson the hard way about a month ago. I was cleaning all my filters just once a month and then I had an emergency with my 10gl so I started cleaning the filter on that one every week with the water changes. I have done this the last 4 weeks.
 
This is the water after cleaning the little HOB 10gl tank filter for my little 10gl tank after just one week.
 

 
Any questions?

 

[Fluval-1200]

I clean my filter every 6 months or so, I found some fry and a kuhli loach last time aswell.
 
+ that bucket you have on the right there isn't that bad, are you cleaning it with chlorinated water?

 

[Mr.Tan]

I clean my canister filter every month. 
 
 
When I had a HOB filter i would clean the media every 2 weeks and pull it off the tank and clean the entire filter once a month.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Sorry but the old adage dirty filter still equates to healthy water in my mind, and I only clean when water flow is showing signs of becoming restricted (usually every 6-8 weeks)

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

^Same here, and that's usually just the intake tubes...

 

[stanleo]

I clean it with the water from the tank that I just took out.
 
I'm not saying all filters need cleaned every week and I agree that the water should be that dirty if I am keeping a clean tank. I make the point because I have known some people, my husband included that think that the filters don't need cleaned at all.
 
I am still doing my canister filters once a month. The ones on the SW tank don't look that bad after a month but the one on the FW tank is just plain gross when I clean it.

 

[coolie]

My main tank is massively UNDER STOCKED and I feed very little. I took the jumbo pads out from the Juwel after 12 months and they didn't need cleaning.
Now I've added Barbs, this may change somewhat.

 

[levahe]

I clean my filters regularly, I get a huge amount of gunk out of the filter on my planted tank every 2 - 4 weeks and I notice a drop in flow after around 4 weeks (fluval 306) but before I had plants I could leave it for 4 months or so.

 

[Feather]

That water isn't anywhere near as dirty as my Rena XP1 when I clean it out
The white bucket turns pitch black...

 

[Ch4rlie]

I've not yet cleaned out my external filter yet, would imagine its worse than your pic as this filter was last cleaned about 4 months ago!

 

[Garbolino]

once a month for me (fluval 306)
 
rinse the polishing pads ever week on the internal rio 240

 

[DreamertK]

I squeeze all of the dissolved dust out of my sponge every time I can.

 
In my other tank I clean the compartment where the magnet spins around creating suction of tank water into the filter or else it'll get clogged and stop running. As well the sponge in that one, but I dont think there's ever been a time when it's been completely clean...

 

[sputnick]

I clean my pads about once a month or so and the entire filter about every two months. I have never cleaned the filter tubes though.. is there a special cleaning tool for this? I'm curious as to how people clean their filter tubes on a canister filter. 

 

[becketlady]

Lol....ok im lost....do we have to clean it out every month? I thought the most important thing is to keep the good bacterias going and not clean it out 100%. 

 

[coolie]

 
Lol....ok im lost....do we have to clean it out every month? I thought the most important thing is to keep the good bacterias going and not clean it out 100%. 

 
Well as you can see everyone has a different regime. I wouldn't knock someone for over cleaning it as it maybe compensating for the common problem oif over-feeding fish.
On the other hand it's definitely a "NO" to over-cleaning the filter in chlorinated water.