Cleaning The Filter

SteveVenezia · Jul 10, 2006

Just a quick question. I've got a very new tank, only 2 weeks now, and I'm a little confused about how I'm meant to clean the filter. I understand that I shouldn't clean it with tap water, but does that mean I have scoop out some tank water and clean it in that? The water is very clear but the insides of the filter are a bit slimey.

Cheers!

OohFeeshy · Jul 10, 2006

Yuo can give it a rinse in th water you take out with the weekly water change. But the filter only needs to be cleaned when the flowrate goes down.

mark.w.jones · Jul 10, 2006

SteveVenezia said:
Just a quick question. I've got a very new tank, only 2 weeks now, and I'm a little confused about how I'm meant to clean the filter. I understand that I shouldn't clean it with tap water, but does that mean I have scoop out some tank water and clean it in that? The water is very clear but the insides of the filter are a bit slimey.

Cheers!

Your water needs changing weekly and although some people leave it longer I would recommend that you go for weekly water changes as it helps maintain good water quality which gives you happier, healthier fish. I do my water change with a gravel vac so I can hoover the crap out of gravel at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. Doing this weekly is a must really especially if you have a smaller tank <20gal.

As far as cleaning your filter it does depend on what type you have. Most contains filter wool (usually fine white material) used for fine filtration or "polishing" water as it's sometimes called. A coarse filter sponge (Comes in various colours, some of your filter bacteria hang out here) and finally filter media (often cermic tubes). Some filters also come with a black carbon filter of some description which most people remove as it is not needed for the day to day running of your tank and replace it with more sponge. Carbon is only really needed for removing fish meds and other nasties should they get in your tank.

As far as cleaning goes. Keep your dirty tank water that you remove with your gravel vac and chuck your filter wool in with it every week. Give it a squeeze then replace back in your filter. The sponge needs cleaning less often. Maybe every 3 weeks or whenever it gets too clogged. Do just the same as with the wool but dont over clean it as some good bacteria hang out there, remember, I mentioned earlier. Whenever the wool / sponge look ready to fall apart replace with new stuff BUT don't replace all at once. Especially the sponge. Cut in half and replace that. Leave for 2 weeks then replace the other half. Otherwise you'll chuck all that good bacteria away. The same applies to your ceramic tubes but they last years before you need to replace them.

Other stuff you might do is trim plants, clean cover plate on light, scrub algae from glass, clean ornaments / rocks, clean filter inlet / outlet / spray bars (toothbrushes and cotton buds are helpful). All these things are as and when really (as and when you can be bothered in my case). Every 3 months I also completely dismantle my filter and give it clean inside as well. A tank should never really be spotless though. A good tank always needs a bit of dirt, grime and algae on it IMO.

Bit longer than I was expecting. Sorry

Good Luck :good: