Hi,
I will soon have to clean my aqua one CF1000 canister filter for the first time and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice how best to do this. How do you clean out your inlet pipes???
Can't say I'm familiar with that particular filter, but the general principles are these;
Clean your filter only when you see a reduction in the output/flow rate - don't clean it just as a matter of routine. When you clean it do it at the same time as you do a water change as you will want the tank water removed for the water change to rinse the filter media in - that way you don't lose any of the 'good' bacteria.
(Alternatively, you could treat some tap water first and use that to rinse the filter media but that strikes me as a bit wasteful)
All I do is this;
1 - remove water for water change (30% or whatever) and let the detritus settle for a while.
2 - uncouple filter and empty water from filter canister down the sink
3 - throw out fine filter media and replace with a new one - don't put the new one in yet! (mine, Eheim, has a white fine mesh filter at the top which is changed each time) - yours may differ?
4 - take all filter media out (the ceramic stuff) and rinse in the tank water removed earlier.
5 - rinse filter canister out (I use warm water from the tap for this, but add a little tap-safe first)
6 - rinse out sponge filter from bottom of canister (again, treated tap water will be fine - you have already saved loads of good bacteria)
7 -replace all media, sponge and fit new fine filter
8 - I then fill up the canister with treated warm tap water before replacing the top as this makes the process much easier when you re- connect it to the tank.
Re-fill tank with treated water at (about) the same temp and re- connect filter - job done!
Cleaning the hose ought to be only a once a year job. Best way I've found is to get one of those pipe cleaner type brushes and tie a piece of string to each end so you can pull it back and forth with a bit of warm water inside. Handy to have two enthusiastic kids at this point!
If you gotta do it on your own then you can still manage if you tie one end to the garden fence or whatever, or use some stiff wire to push/pull it through.
