Do you have to clean aquarium pipes?

[Christoffer]

Hi i have 2 big filters whit pipes, the pipes have never have been cleaned and are very nasty, but i dont mine its nasty,
but do i have to clean the pipes ?
Do it affect the fish?
Do it affect the fish ore is there no reason except for the Look?

 

[Byron]

Yes to all questions. The sludge that builds up in filter tubes is bacteria and organics. Reducing organics controls nitrate, and nitrate should always be as low as is absolutely possible. Regular substantial water changes, cleaning the filter, vacuuming the substrate, not overfeeding and not overstocking all help keep nitrates low.

Some aquarists use home-made "cleaners" to get inside the filter tubes. I just use hot water from the tap and manage to push it back and forth (at the sink obviously).

 

[Colin_T]

I just used a garden hose and blast it out. Most of the gunk comes out easily enough.

If it gets really bad and hosing it out doesn't work, you can pour liquid bleach in the hoses and leave them for a few hours before hosing out really well.

 

[seangee]

I use one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072JCXQ1R/?tag=

 

[Retired Viking]

Like @seangee I use a cleaning brush. I also use a hose to flush it out when I am done.

 

[Christoffer]

I have one of the brushes, its only able to go halfway, alot off work,
what if i dont clean it, my nitrat is very low, and haven changes becures of the filter mediea "biohome ultimate" i have, there will eat the nitrats, and i have many plants,
i have 3 filters it takes alot off time, just trying to cut away ass much off the maintenance as possible, so I can use the extra time to just enjoy it.

 

[Byron]

I have one of the brushes, its only able to go halfway, alot off work,
what if i dont clean it, my nitrat is very low, and haven changes becures of the filter mediea "biohome ultimate" i have, there will eat the nitrats, and i have many plants,
i have 3 filters it takes alot off time, just trying to cut away ass much off the maintenance as possible, so I can use the extra time to just enjoy it.

The gunk is organics but also bacteria. This should ideally be removed, but not being a microbiologist I cannot say what may or may not result. The Python water changer hose is another source for this and it too should be cleaned.

If bleach is used, rinse it several times with fresh tap water, and then completely air dry.

 

[Retired Viking]

I just checked my pipes a couple of days ago, a little build up that only took a few minutes to clean, you do not have to scrub them where they are clean clean enough to eat off, just get the sludge out.

 

[Christoffer]

Okay i will try to clean the pipes today, thanks for the answers

 

[Waterstrider]

I’m gonna add something different: besides algae and bacteria build up there are other issues. I have hard water, so preventing unsightly calcium build ups can be a thing too, also depending on what you keep , some animals- loaches, fry, snails will on rare occasions try to get in these things (I had a plec do this once) so it’s good to check them out for these reasons too.