Cleaning Filter Casing

[FishGuest5123]

Hope this is ok to post here. Wondering how often anyone with HOB’s clean the actual filter housing or casing. I clean the media every couple of weeks but never clean the actual housing on most of the tanks due to them being against the walls. I noticed one is getting slime on the water spill area. How often should this be done?

 

[AbbeysDad]

I have several Aquaclear HOB's. I typically just remove the media basket to clean the sponges. However, if I let it go too long, crud will build up in the impeller magnet area and if there's a power failure (or it's unplugged), the gunk may prevent the impeller from spinning when the power is restored.....So, about once a month or so, I'll take the filters off the tank and clean them up.

 

[Colin_T]

I cleaned my filter cases when I did the filters. I turn the filter off, tip the water out, wash the filter media in a bucket of tank water. Rinse the case out and wipe any major gunk out of it, you don't have to be too thorough. Wash the impellor assembly and the inside of the motor. Put a drop of vege oil or Vaseline on the o-ring and then put it all back together.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the info. So Vaseline won’t hurt the fish?

 

[Colin_T]

The Vaseline goes on the o-ring, which helps the motor fit back into the case. It doesn't normally come in contact with the aquarium water. But even if it does, it will only be in tiny amounts and it never harmed any of my fish.