Fillter Cleaning

[TropicalDanny]

Hey all, how often should I clean me filter sponges and how do I do this I know not to use tap water but.that is it. Thanks again for help in advance lol

 

[Joshwainwright]

Once each month is a good routine to get in to. Make sure you don't use tap water though!
 
You should be using water from your tank, so it's usually best doing it while doing a water change. Siphon some water into a clean bucket which is only used for your tank and give the sponges a few squeezes in there. If you have any ceramics just give them a quick rinse in the same water.
 
Then replace the water with dechlorinated, temperature matched tap water

 

[the_lock_man]

+1

 

[TropicalDanny]

That's great thank you if I.buy new media for my fillter could I place them.in the corner of my tank to cycle ?

 

[the_lock_man]

Nope.
 
If your filter is full to capacity, then you don't need any new media, until such time as the sponges fall apart (literally). The ceramics never need replacing.
 
As and when you do need to replace sponges (and I have never had to do this) only replace a maximum of a third of the filter's capacity at any one time.

 

[TropicalDanny]

Right I see, my filter at the moment just has sponge and a small tub with what just looks like plain gravel in it? The sponge doesn't look in the greatest state. Thanks for your knowledge

 

[the_lock_man]

If there is more space in the filter for more sponges, then put more sponges in there. The more room there is for bacteria to grow, the better. The plain gravel will probably be a ceramic, with lots of little nooks and crannies for bacteria to grow.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Yeah, what you describe as plain gravel will be ceramics for holding bacteria
 
You probably don't need to replace your sponges, I've never had to in 5 years, even if I've had a few filters in that time

 

[Mikey1]

filter cleaning will vary from one tank to the next, many different factors come into play,
 
tank stocking, type of fish, feeding habits, type of food fed, filter flow rate, tank size, etc etc
 
anywhere from 2-4 weeks i would say is a good general rule,
 
sometimes cleaning a filter too often can do more harm than good

 

[TropicalDanny]

Thanks guys and gals all and.any advice is great. There is room for more sponge in my filter so its good I can ad more. And sweet I don't have to purchase ceramic beads now thanks.again all x

 

[RCA]

to TFF
 
Do you know what make your filter is?
What size is the tank you have it in? 
What fish do you keep?