When Do You Clean The Filter When Cycling?

[AdrianJames]

Im not too sure when Im aloud to clean the filter? Do I have to wait untill the cycling is finished to clean it? Its only been cycling for 7 days. Also siphoning the bottom. (cause I know the GOOD bacteria is building up here too.)
I already know that when you clean the filter you clean it in aquarium water, just incase someone mentions it

If someone could help me out that would be great

 

[CezzaXV]

tbh, if you're fishless cycling, your filter shouldnt be getting sufficiently dirty to warrant a clean anyway.

 

[sadguppy]

I have had to do mine a few times when it seems like it's losing suction when plants and silt build up, and haven't had any significant effects on the bacteria so far, touch wood.

 

[AdrianJames]

tbh, if you're fishless cycling, your filter shouldnt be getting sufficiently dirty to warrant a clean anyway.

I'm fish cycling

 

[FishBlast]

tbh, if you're fishless cycling, your filter shouldnt be getting sufficiently dirty to warrant a clean anyway.

I'm fish cycling

Good question, I also need to know this, as I am also fish-in cycling for a month now, but no idea on progress unfortunately.
I have been washing the filter once every 1 and a half weeks. Last time I did that, all the gunk in it spread all over the aquarium, but got sucked back in 15 minutes later.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

tbh, if you're fishless cycling, your filter shouldnt be getting sufficiently dirty to warrant a clean anyway.

I'm fish cycling

Good question, I also need to know this, as I am also fish-in cycling for a month now, but no idea on progress unfortunately.
I have been washing the filter once every 1 and a half weeks. Last time I did that, all the gunk in it spread all over the aquarium, but got sucked back in 15 minutes later.

You should remove the whole filter (if it's an internal) when you clean the media so that you don't dump all the gunk back into the tank. All you need to do is give it a good, but gentle, swill around in old tank water but don't squeeze it.

If you're doing a fish-in cycle you need to keep the filter clean as any build up of detritus blocks the growth of the nitrifying bacteria and encourages the other types of bacteria we don't want.

 

[FishBlast]

tbh, if you're fishless cycling, your filter shouldnt be getting sufficiently dirty to warrant a clean anyway.

I'm fish cycling

Good question, I also need to know this, as I am also fish-in cycling for a month now, but no idea on progress unfortunately.
I have been washing the filter once every 1 and a half weeks. Last time I did that, all the gunk in it spread all over the aquarium, but got sucked back in 15 minutes later.

You should remove the whole filter (if it's an internal) when you clean the media so that you don't dump all the gunk back into the tank. All you need to do is give it a good, but gentle, swill around in old tank water but don't squeeze it.

If you're doing a fish-in cycle you need to keep the filter clean as any build up of detritus blocks the growth of the nitrifying bacteria and encourages the other types of bacteria we don't want.

I didn't open it while in the tank. I moved it to a bowl with tank water to clean it. In there I opened it and rubbed what ever debris was stuck between the sponges' lines, then assembled it and put it back into the aquarium, but somehow more gunk came out of the filter before I turned it on.
A swirl wouldn't take off the stuff that accumulates there though. It was probably fish poop as the food never even makes it to the floor, the fish eat it all.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I didn't open it while in the tank. I moved it to a bowl with tank water to clean it. In there I opened it and rubbed what ever debris was stuck between the sponges' lines, then assembled it and put it back into the aquarium, but somehow more gunk came out of the filter before I turned it on.
A swirl wouldn't take off the stuff that accumulates there though. It was probably fish poop as the food never even makes it to the floor, the fish eat it all.

The purpose of a filter is to provide a lot of surface area and good flow of water for the beneficial bacteria, it's not, despite what some may think, a tank cleaning device. If your filter is that clogged up you either aren't cleaning it often enough or your tank is overstocked or your general tank maintenance isn't sufficient.

Also, when you've finished cleaning the filter and it's been reassembled always run it first in another bucket of clean tank water so that any debris that gets blown out is in the bucket and not in your tank.

 

[FishBlast]

I didn't open it while in the tank. I moved it to a bowl with tank water to clean it. In there I opened it and rubbed what ever debris was stuck between the sponges' lines, then assembled it and put it back into the aquarium, but somehow more gunk came out of the filter before I turned it on.
A swirl wouldn't take off the stuff that accumulates there though. It was probably fish poop as the food never even makes it to the floor, the fish eat it all.

The purpose of a filter is to provide a lot of surface area and good flow of water for the beneficial bacteria, it's not, despite what some may think, a tank cleaning device. If your filter is that clogged up you either aren't cleaning it often enough or your tank is overstocked or your general tank maintenance isn't sufficient.

Also, when you've finished cleaning the filter and it's been reassembled always run it first in another bucket of clean tank water so that any debris that gets blown out is in the bucket and not in your tank.

I know i am overstocked, I am trying to fix that problem as soon as possible, as my old tank is cracked so I cannot do anything till I get a new one.
It still has a good flow but the stuff in it is like small particles of what ever they are. Might be fish poop from the swordtails.