Aqua clear 110 maintenance method?

[PJ1]

So this is my first time using aquaclears. I have a pair of 110s on my 180. I haven't quite got down a good method to cleaning them yet between the WC and cleaning the sponge. anyone who uses these a lot got any tips on changing the 3 parts of the filter if/when and their method to pulling it out to avoid dumping some of the garbage from the drop into the tank?

 

[Pomatomus]

I pull mine out and quickly put it in a pitcher or small bucket over the filter itself. AC's are great. Mine have been running for 10+ years without the slightest rattle!

 

[PJ1]

P Pomatomus How often do you change out the carbon/sponge and 3rd part or do you just rinse the sponge well?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

if you are running carbon in your filter, get rid of it. no need other than if you are pulling medication out of the water.

I just rinse the sponges in mine really well. I use RID-X after water changes so I rarely have to do filter maintenance heavily.

 

[PJ1]

P predatorkeeper87 I'm running the 3 piece setup that came with the 110s the sponge the carbon bag and the little brown hollow spheres which I'm honestly not even sure what their for. So you're saying I can pull both the black carbon bags out?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

P predatorkeeper87 I'm running the 3 piece setup that came with the 110s the sponge the carbon bag and the little brown hollow spheres which I'm honestly not even sure what their for. So you're saying I can pull both the black carbon bags out?

Yup, carbon is only good for removing chemicals from the water, so unless you dose meds its not doing you any good.

the spheres are, I'm guessing, probably biomedia of some variety which is just a place for bacteria to grow in your filter. you can keep those in, they are beneficial.

the sponge is obviously mech filtration so that's a must lol.

 

[PJ1]

Well ****. Makes more sense why my plants didn't seem to be doing well even with the seachem boosters for them. Well live and learn I guess thanks

 

[tlindsey]

I pull out the sponge drop it in a 5 gallon bucket, then drain water from inside of filter with 5/8in hose and swish sponge around in the bucket. I removed the biomax and placed it in the sump of the trickle filter. Don't use carbon on any of my aquariums.

 

[duanes]

As far as cleaning the sponges, after unplugging, I usually remove some water to a bucket (part of a water change) and squeeze out the sponge in the old tank water, if it gets too turbid, dump and remove more water and squeeze again. This way the beneficial bacteria in the sponge are not compromised with chlorinated, different temp water. If the biomedia gets gunky, I do the same thing with it, swishing it around in old tank water until most the gunk is removed. Put the filter back on, and replace the old water in the tank with dechlorinated tap water, and crank the filter back on.

 

[PJ1]

Awesome. Tried this out on one filter. Def worked much nicer without the carbon and made life easier.
Figure I'll do one filter each week alternating to not mess with the bact too much.