Before and after filter cleaning

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Need to put more media/foam in that top middle tray. Lots of wasted space.

I agree, I run either floss or I cut a piece of nitrate pad on my heavier loaded tank. Not sure if the nitrate pad stuff helps, but it makes me feel better and catches crap. :hitting: From the looks of yours, I clean mine to often. How long did you wait to clean that and what’s your bio load if you don’t mind me asking?
 
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Need to put more media/foam in that top middle tray. Lots of wasted space.
I will keep that in mind, next time I have my filter apart I will add more media in the spaces where I can. thank you
 
I agree, I run either floss or I cut a piece of nitrate pad on my heavier loaded tank. Not sure if the nitrate pad stuff helps, but it makes me feel better and catches crap. :hitting: From the looks of yours, I clean mine to often. How long did you wait to clean that and what’s your bio load if you don’t mind me asking?
Well you are correct here it was more dirty than It should have been, I had gone longer than I usually do before cleaning it, which is why it was so dirty and my nitrates were not where I wanted them so I knew it was getting bad and it clearly was. I currently have a fairly heavy bio load but do frequent water changes, current stock is :
- 14 silver dollars, 5 of which are large thin bars, the others are around 3-4 inches
-1 large 15 inch pleco
-2 red head tapajo's
I will be downsizing to only the 5 thin bar silver dollars and 1 tiger stripe here shortly, along with the 2 red heads and pleco. I will be adding more filtration to the tank in the near future to help with the bio load.
 
Well you are correct here it was more dirty than It should have been, I had gone longer than I usually do before cleaning it, which is why it was so dirty and my nitrates were not where I wanted them so I knew it was getting bad and it clearly was. I currently have a fairly heavy bio load but do frequent water changes, current stock is :
- 14 silver dollars, 5 of which are large thin bars, the others are around 3-4 inches
-1 large 15 inch pleco
-2 red head tapajo's
I will be downsizing to only the 5 thin bar silver dollars and 1 tiger stripe here shortly, along with the 2 red heads and pleco. I will be adding more filtration to the tank in the near future to help with the bio load.

Don’t beat yourself up about the heavy bio load, I was just curious to compare to mine. (Tank size?) We’ve all been there and thin the herd as they grow or get a larger tank. For me, I have to clean the filter/filters more often and do the dreaded water changes more often until I do. It took me a while to figure out my schedules. Then I get another tank and have to figure another. :ROFL:
 
Don’t beat yourself up about the heavy bio load, I was just curious to compare to mine. (Tank size?) We’ve all been there and thin the herd as they grow or get a larger tank. For me, I have to clean the filter/filters more often and do the dreaded water changes more often until I do. It took me a while to figure out my schedules. Then I get another tank and have to figure another. :ROFL:
lol I hear yah there and Yah I'll be adding 2 red oscars to the tank as well in about another month or 2 when I move them from the quarantine/ grow out tank, so my water change schedule will definitely need to be changed haha. My tank size is 125 gallons 6 foot x 18 x 21
 
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I have two 125’s running fairly heavy bio loads also. I can usually tell by my nitrates creeping faster than usual it’s time to clean my filters. Usually around two to three months on the FX’s. Once a month on the smaller ones running with them. Best of luck to you with those Red Oscars. They are beauty’s.
 
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I have two 125’s running fairly heavy bio loads also. I can usually tell by my nitrates creeping faster than usual it’s time to clean my filters. Usually around two to three months on the FX’s. Once a month on the smaller ones running with them. Best of luck to you with those Red Oscars. They are beauty’s.
Thank you ! and yah it had been 3 months since I cleaned the filter this time around
 
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