Cleaning Canister Filter - Advise Please

[Deleted member 107737]

hi All,



I have a canister filter which has been running for a month now. ive read that is should be cleaned monthly??



Also how do you clean ceramic noodles etc??



Any advice would be great.



Thanks,



Dave

 

[Royston]

I only clean mine if the water flow looks as if it has slowed down and only rinse the media gently in a bucket of your aquarium water

 

[Livewire88]

All you need to do is open the canister remove the trays and give them a swish around in Used Tank Water tip out all the dirty nasty water from the canister and replace the trays, either replace the filter floss or give it a good squeeze in Used Tank Water.  Then fill the canister back up with more Used Tank Water and replace the lid and you are done. 
 
You do not have to clean the noodles just make sure you give them a good swish round. And whatever you do don't use Tap water to clean any of the filter media.

 

[techen]

Livewire said it. I replace my filter floss every two weeks in my canister and as I do I give it a quick clean too.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Just to add to the above, I change my filter floss every month but only give my filter a quick once over every few months. This includes squeezing out a couple of sponges to get rid of some of the dirt. I've got about 8 sponges in the filter though so only do a few each time so as not to affect the bacteria. I rinse in tank water too.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Dave,
 
The best advice has already been given - dont take your filter media any where near tap water.
My personal opinion is that i would leave your filter media alone if your filter has recently been established. My limited understanding is that the beneficial bacteria although capable of doing their job are still delicate and it takes some months for them to 'toughen up' - something about the bacterial film around them or something - at this point my head started hurting as i am no biologist

.
 
Change the floss if you need to.
Also, keep your pipes and intake and outlet clean. You will be surprised at how much the flow is reduced with dirty pipes. I use use green piping so know when to clean them.
 
If you post what make and model of filter you have then folk can give you specific tips if needed.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Barry! Long time no see!
 
I'd agree that it might be best to hold of cleaning the filter so the bacteria have a good long chance to set up housekeeping. I only clean mine every couple of months and have had no problems, short of finding shrimp and snails in there. 

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Hi TOS!
 
Hope you are well.
Like the the setup in your sig. Looks fantastic.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Thanks ... wish it still looked like that!