Fluval 305 External Cannister

[suen]

I am half way through having a nosey in my external filter.. first time since setting the tank up..
Question is, do I need to really need to remove the sponge frame.. somehow it has got stuck...

 

[rob00120]

when i first looked in my 2nd hand 305 to clean it befor i first used it the person befor me had put the sponge frame in upside down and it was stuck so i just pulled it hard cleaned it then i had to straighten the frame a bit but i would say you have to clean the sponge and frame as it gets very dirty

 

[suen]

Thanks for your reply... since writing this I did manage with brute force to get the tray out, only to find that there is a long way to go before I can class it as 'mature'... I am now wondering whether it would help things along a little faster if I left the lid off the trays, in order to get more water through them.. thoughts please