Filter Maintenance

[Nick Sw]

I don`t really class myself as a beginner anymore but I`ve always wondered when cleaning your canister/external filter whether or not the water in the filter should be poured out as it`s full of crud/etc every article on filter maintenance I`ve read hasn`t mentioned it ?

Presumably as long as the filter is filled straight away with tank water it isn`t a problem to do this ?

 

[QuotheRaven]

Great question I was thinking the same thing (my reply keeps this topic up there to be answered )

 

[Beemeeup]

ive only recently become tropical fish owner but i have cleaned my filter twice in aquarium water and in doing so tipped out all the water in the canister (Fluval 305) and cleaned inside. when putting the filter back i pumped all the air out with the plunger on the cannister until the aquarium water had filled it up again. i will always do this as i did not want to put all the gunge and dirty water in the cannister back into the aquarium - my water is getting very clear with these processes - i do not use tap water in this process at all.

 

[Nick Sw]

I`ve done that a couple of times but most people say you should hardly ever touch your filter, I think as not to disturb/kill the bacteria.
But then again you don`t want all the crud producing Nitrate in your filter I wouldn`t of thought either.

 

[Cheffi]

I've only cleaned out my filter twice. Poured all the muck out then rinsed the baskets in the old tank water. Gave the sponges a quick swish around in the old tank water and put it back. It hasn't altered my water stats so I'm guessing it's ok to do it like that.

 

[raptorrex]

I don`t really class myself as a beginner anymore but I`ve always wondered when cleaning your canister/external filter whether or not the water in the filter should be poured out as it`s full of crud/etc every article on filter maintenance I`ve read hasn`t mentioned it ?

Presumably as long as the filter is filled straight away with tank water it isn`t a problem to do this ?

well i return the water from my cannister, after i use it for rinsing the media. though i use some 'white filter" sheet, about 1/4 inch thick. and pour the water through it to clear the bigger bits of gunk.

 

[Beemeeup]

i think what cheffi does is the ideal procedure.

 

[Nick Sw]

Thanks Guys . I agree the Cheffi method.

 

[Cheffi]

 

[Tolak]

Cheffi has the right idea. Dump the old water, swish the media in old tank or other dechlored water. I take the empty filter body to the sink & hose it out with tap water.

 

[lighter]

I'll only wash 1 filter at a time, and most of my tanks have 2 filters.