Best Way To Clean A Filter

[FiestaWRS]

I have a Fluval 3 plus filter, i dont know if anyone has one but how do u clean them.i find the best way is to just rinse them under a powerfull shower jet.

 

[Bloo]

that would certainly not be the way to do it I'm afraid.

By doing that, you are compeltely removing any and all bacteria from the sponges.
You need to gently squeeze the sponges out in some siphoned tank water. I do my Fluval 2 on a weekly basis. This will prevent any clogging and nasty build-up's.

However, I DO wash the filterhead, motor and impellor under a shower jet.

I have a Fluval 3 plus filter, i dont know if anyone has one but how do u clean them.i find the best way is to just rinse them under a powerfull shower jet.

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[FiestaWRS]

I know it removes bacteria but i've only bin doing it a couple of months and my fish seem as happy as ever??
might replace the filters tonite with new ones and start again with a weekly rinse in the old tank water.

 

[Fella]

I know it removes bacteria but i've only bin doing it a couple of months and my fish seem as happy as ever??

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Looks can be deceiving. Can you do a water test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[Bloo]

Well in that case if you are happy with your own way of doing things, there is no need for advice.

Pardon the sarcasm but why ask a question and then say your way is fine anyway.....

 

[FiestaWRS]

i asked the question to see if i was doing anything bad with washing it with the shower head, after u saying u do it every week i will no take the advice which i asked for?

 

[CFC]

Replacing the sponges will send your tank into a cycle which will likely kill all your fish.

 

[FiestaWRS]

i thought that but after doing the last filter change they were fine and when i first got the filter the shop just said it will b fine just putting it in.i may soak the filters first

 

[Bloo]

It's just a tad frustrating when someone comes to ask advice and the proceeds to to say their way is fine anyway and just ignores advice given.
But anyway the longer term effects of washing the sponges that way will manifest in the fish's health. So best really to wash the sponges in some siphoned tank water on a regular basis.

Also, if you need to replace any sponges (really only need to do this once they start falling apart), only do one at a time.

 

[CFC]

Soaking will do nothing, it takes a few days at least for nitrosoma bacteria to colonise new filter media to an ammount large enough for suitable filtration, without a suitably sized colony of these bacteria ammonia and nitrite levels in your aquarium will rise and your fish will suffer. Washing the filter pads out under a tap or shower will have the same effect as the chlorine present in mains water will kill the bacteria.
All that is needed to clean the media from your filter is to give it a light rinse in water taken from the tank when you do a water change, a more vigorous cleaning will also remove too much of the bacteria.

 

[gabbman]

Replacing the sponges will send your tank into a cycle which will likely kill all your fish.

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I squeeze out the secondary sponge (it is usually the cleaner of the two sides, and put it on the primary side (that grabs the first of the sludge on the intake) and replace the secondary side with the new ones (that I have squeezed in some of the tank water.

That way only one of the filters is (virgin) and the other still retains the cycled bacteria.

That's what I was instructed by my LFS where I bought the 304. Testing tells me the amonia's and nitrates are always perfect to very low, and I've never had any spiking up or down.

 

[CFC]

While there is nothing wrong with what you are doing (old media seeds the new) there isnt actually any need to be replacing filter media other than that the fish stores want your money. I havent changed the biological media in any of my filters for the last 5 years and it is still all going strong. The only media that needs regular changing is any chemical media (nitrazorb, rowaphos etc) which becomes spent after a period of time and to a lesser extent the mechanical media (usually floss) which falls apart after a few washes.