Cleaning Filter For First Time

[Rick]

My tank just finally cycled after a month. I plan to clean the filters monthly and replace the charcoal and rinse the rest. How do I clean these without destroying the beneficial bacteria? I have a 55 gal with two 350 GPH filters. One is a canister and one hangs off the back. Thanks.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Use old tank water.

Also, look into filter fiber for the HOB, since you're wasting money on cartridges, IMO.

 

[Rick]

Can you point me in a direction for this filter fiber? Never used it before.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Where do you live?

If in the U.S., I'm 100% sure Petsmart has it.

Elsewhere, check your lfs.

Also, what do you use in your canister filter? If you use some sort of white cloth, that's filter fiber/floss.

 

[Locke]

I've seen my friend clean his filter with old seawater before. But then he said he's going to get the fiber shortly. So, I guess it's up to you on what you have to do. Bioballs and sponges have gotten really bad wraps... so, I'm not going to use them in my system when I set it up.

SB

 

[dwarfgourami]

I'm really happy with my sponges; have been using the same ones for over a year and they are still in good nick. I only use a carbon sponge for special occasions though; have replaced it with another ordinary sponge.

What I do is I rinse one sponge at a time; so in my bigger tank I have 4 sponges, that means one gets rinsed (=very gently swished in old tank water) about once a week, or a little less frequently. So I'm never cleaning out the whole lot at one time.

As for the filter floss, I used to change it every week. Now I've got more stingy, so I see if I can rinse it out first and make it do for another week.

 

[Rick]

Thanks for the replies. I am in the US. My one filter is a penguin so do I just stick the filter fiber in there? Thanks.