Having Trouble Keeping My Tank Clean

[KrystaK]

I have a 30 gal tank with a Fluval U3 filter, it's fully cycled. The Fluval U3 is an internal filter so the full body sits in the tank.
I had this problem with a previous filter also. Whenever I unplug it to clean the tank it releases some gunk into the tank, and the gunk will settle on the bottom or on the plants, and it is really starting to annoy me. 
I recently upped my stock and the waste has consequently gotten worse. I'm debating on saving up and spending the money on a canister filter in hopes it will help stop some waste from leaking back into the tank when I unplug to clean.
 
Until that time, does anyone have any advice on keeping my tank clean?

 

[Fishmanic]

a canister filter is a very good filter but somewhat more expensive than some other types.   I have a 35 gallon tank and just bought this HOB filter on amazon---it has 3 stage filtration and you need not change all media at once--this keeps your beneficial bacteria high.   It has very good reviews on Amazon.   They also make a 30 gallon model which is about $5 cheaper but it would be best to spend the extra $5 and get a more powerful filter.   I'll post a review after I've had it for awhile.   This filter should be a big improvement over my present single cartridge 20 year old HOB filter.
 
http/www.amazon.com/AquaClear-50-Power-Filter-Includes/dp/B000260FUM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382322534&sr=8-1&keywords=aquaclear+50

 

[ech0o]

I like my internal filters and have figured out a good method to cleaning them out.   I really didn't want to replace them, because if you think about it they are able to move so much more water than any other method as there is no gravitational boundaries, it is all done within the tank water, and work REALLY good.
 
Anyways, if you get a quart container, or a beer pitcher works great, you can submerse it into the tank, and with the internal filter still operating, you dislodge it from the side and gently place it within the pitcher or container.  Then you lift it up and the container out of the water just a little bit, THEN turn the filter off, and the gunk will just release into the container instead.  Then you can take that to the sink, pull the filter out and put it into the sink, then take the filter pads out and rinse them right in the container of tank water you have sitting there, rinse the filter down with the tank water as well, replace everything to the filter and back into the tank, no mess!
 
How does the Fluval U3 work as far as power goes?  Has it been doing a good job polishing and moving water in your system?

Also if you have a spare pump or power head, there is a very easy DIY water polisher you can make with a powerhead and a waterbottle with filter floss in it, then you kick up all that debris you are talking about into the water column, and direct the powerhead all over the tank vacuuming up all of the debris.

 

[star4]

When you clean the filter, before you turn it back on attach a hose to the outlet of the filter to a bucket, then turn it on, the first blast of gunk will then go into the bucket not into the tank, then just pull the hose off. You would get the same problem with an external filter, they blow out gunk after being cleaned too.

 

[dave840f1]

Just to say there are no gravitational boundaries with external filters. When they are bellow the tank you have atmospheric pressure helping water intake so it causes a water balance in output.

 

[IonaMcCluskey]

i tend to go along the same kinda line as echoo, except i use my net. just slip the net under and around the bottom of the filter, then switch off and lift the filter out using the net. the finer stuff may slip through but it probably wont be much

 

[ech0o]

Just to say there are no gravitational boundaries with external filters. When they are bellow the tank you have atmospheric pressure helping water intake so it causes a water balance in output.

I was referring to a hang on back filter as was first mentioned,   which fights with gravity the entire time it is operating.  We try to use suggestions for the current equipment being used, instead of jumping to the first conclusion of buy this, or buy that. 
 
 

i tend to go along the same kinda line as echoo, except i use my net. just slip the net under and around the bottom of the filter, then switch off and lift the filter out using the net. the finer stuff may slip through but it probably wont be much

Yea that works well too, that is what I was doing when I had a small internal filter, now mine is so big it doesn't fit in my net anymore!!
 
 
Like dave mentioned, external canisters are EXTREMELY effective in cleaning the actual debris from the water, as there is much more chamber space to trap and contain it, the flow is REALLY good on them as they use gravity to their advantage to create a strong siphon.  This in fact would leave the tank the cleanest, and take up the least space inside.  I would go with canister when I needed to be able to adjust where my intake and outflow would go, and if I needed a bit extra current in my tank, otherwise I usualy go with internal.

 

[ech0o]

 

Just to say there are no gravitational boundaries with external filters. When they are bellow the tank you have atmospheric pressure helping water intake so it causes a water balance in output.

I was referring to a hang on back filter as was first mentioned,   which fights with gravity the entire time it is operating.  We try to use suggestions for the current equipment being used, instead of jumping to the first conclusion of buy this, or buy that. 
 
 

i tend to go along the same kinda line as echoo, except i use my net. just slip the net under and around the bottom of the filter, then switch off and lift the filter out using the net. the finer stuff may slip through but it probably wont be much

Yea that works well too, that is what I was doing when I had a small internal filter, now mine is so big it doesn't fit in my net anymore!!
 
 
Like dave mentioned, external canisters are EXTREMELY effective in cleaning the actual debris from the water, as there is much more chamber space to trap and contain it, the flow is REALLY good on them as they use gravity to their advantage to create a strong siphon.  This in fact would leave the tank the cleanest, and take up the least space inside.  I would go with canister when I needed to be able to adjust where my intake and outflow would go, and if I needed a bit extra current in my tank, otherwise I usualy go with internal.
 

oh seems she was opting for an external first, my bad!

 

[KrystaK]

I like the idea of using a pitcher to clean the filter. My internal filter is attached to the side of the tank by really strong suction cups/ I think it shifts forward to be on an angle for easy cleaning, but it won't come apart from the suction cups. And to get them off the glass I would have to disturb the filter and a bunch of gunk would still end up coming out. But I'll try it and see how it works. 
 
star4: The thing with my filter is that the gunk will come out the intake areas ont he side of the filter, not much actually comes out of the intake, it\s when the the filter is off, there is no water pressure to keep the captured gunk in the filter and so it just sort of falls back out the intake areas.
 
If the pitcher idea doesn't work I'll do some more research on canister filters. 
I was also thinking of attaching a 20 gal power filter (Almost like the aqua clear mentioned) to the back to get additional filtration in an attempt to control the gunk, So I'll try that before springing for a new filter  
 
ecgo0: It works very well as far as power goes. I have it at one end of my tank with it set to only blow water at the top level of the tank (it can also do gently full tank and just bottom of the tank) When it's set on gently whole tank it's still strong enough to push over the Rotalla I have growing at the other end of the tank, some 36 inches away. The top only power means the top of the tank has a good current that my guppies enjoy swimming in. 
As far as cleaning the water, after about a week (As I don't have a set routine for cleaning) the water does start to look a little clouded, but as soon as I clean the tank and add new water it looks fine (Aside from the gunk that settles on the plants and sand).

 

[KirkyArcher]

When I was using my U3 filter I just used the tip forward mechanism, popped the lid and removed the three "cassettes" while in situ nothing substantial ever fell out, The pitcher (Jug) idea sounds very plausible and how about while you're doing your cleaning you have a gravel vac in operation at the same time to pick up any offending dirt as it falls

 

[ech0o]

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4CnMWfQfc0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUM9oZkV3tGJuUUhgZaiGZkQ
 
here is the video i was referring to if you had an extra pump laying around