Filter Media Cleaning

[mark4785]

I was wondering what must be done when carrying out filter maintenance due to it being evident that there has been a build up of detritus on the filter mdia and the water outflow has visibly slowed.

Is it simply a case of dunking the biological filter material in a bucket of tank water to remove the detritus or must all the filter apparatus including the pump be taken a part and cleaned?

Obviously, I don't want to lose any of my nitrifying bacteria, so any tips for retaining as much of this as possible during cleaning would be most appreciated.

Mark.

 

[mattlee]

as you said really remove media and swish it about in tank water and gently squeeze, dont go overboard on the squeezing.
if the flow is still not right then clean the impellor and housing etc and if its an external give the pipes a good clean its amazing what a good clean can do for a filter and its flow

 

[mark4785]

as you said really remove media and swish it about in tank water and gently squeeze, dont go overboard on the squeezing.
if the flow is still not right then clean the impellor and housing etc and if its an external give the pipes a good clean its amazing what a good clean can do for a filter and its flow

Ok thanks a lot!