Admit how long without cleaning the filter....
- Thread starter 2songbirds
- Start date
Depends on stock, bio load, frequency of wc and feeding habits, every one of my tanks are different as are the variables, for instance my 90gal with 1 3" FISH has 2ac110 and i clean one every 4-5 months but my 125gal with 5 adult rb piranhas has a fx5 and that thing gets dirty fast, so once every 2 months, and then there's a 40b 4" res tank and that filter gets cleaned once per week when I do a wc on it!
There's always a point where the filter and media gets clogged with debris and to maintain peak gph you need to clean it!
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Go S.Vettel #1 RB8 3X WDC!!!!!!!!!
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
CONGRATULATIONS TO SAMEER3600 FOR WINNING "FISH OF THE YEAR!"
There's always a point where the filter and media gets clogged with debris and to maintain peak gph you need to clean it!
__________________________________________________________________
Go S.Vettel #1 RB8 3X WDC!!!!!!!!!
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
CONGRATULATIONS TO SAMEER3600 FOR WINNING "FISH OF THE YEAR!"
I never do a WC unless we have a power outage, then tank does itself. Never check balances, test water, or even monitor the temp, I have a heater, that is set, Never vac, I do clean inside and outside glass every month, about same time every month, I pull the media drawer and replace ((media is 1 piece of felt, 2 pieces of batting)) Tank gets 1 drip of city water every minute, and I do have a auto top off setup.
I love it. Did cause me to loss my stock once, my fault for being lazy, but the drip regulator came off and the tank was getting a steady stream of city water until I am guessing the temp got way to low, and water balance was off the charts.
I love it. Did cause me to loss my stock once, my fault for being lazy, but the drip regulator came off and the tank was getting a steady stream of city water until I am guessing the temp got way to low, and water balance was off the charts.
i have 2 fluval externals on a 130gal, i was attempting to clean them every 2 months but it was a waste of time as they were always spotless. I now clean them every 6 months and even then they are spotless, just a matter of cleaning the snails out haha. I think a lot of it is dependant on what filter media you use, filter wool or a fine sponge may be needing a weekly rinse out but i use tons of the plastic, ceramic and gravel style media and as a result do very little filter maintenence on my overstocked tank with messy meat eating fish! The waterchanges are weekly though, just because i only clean my filter out twice a year doesnt mean im lazy with my fish keeping haha!
I have an Eheim Pro 3e 2078 which tells me with lights if the flow has become reduced. I have goldfish though, and they are serious pigs, so I tend to rinse the sponge & floss every 2 weeks in a bucket of tank water.
If the flow is reduced, typically it's the hoses that need a quick cleaning with a brush.
If the flow is reduced, typically it's the hoses that need a quick cleaning with a brush.
3 years, and I have only replaced sponge filters when they implode or fall apart.
I have never had to replace a sponge in the AC 110's, and clean at most twice a year.
I dont use Carbon, and the only "washing" I do of the bio media is rinsing it in the tank itself after the water change. The still bottom resting goo is sucked up in the following weeks water change.
I strongly disagree with the suggested "small" water changes, and everyone of my tanks have at least three and up to twelve sponge filters. I do water changes of 75% frequently.
I have never had to replace a sponge in the AC 110's, and clean at most twice a year.
I dont use Carbon, and the only "washing" I do of the bio media is rinsing it in the tank itself after the water change. The still bottom resting goo is sucked up in the following weeks water change.
I strongly disagree with the suggested "small" water changes, and everyone of my tanks have at least three and up to twelve sponge filters. I do water changes of 75% frequently.
haha, I as the OP am loving reading these posts!!! I agree about not doing the "small" water changes as I stated in the beginning I almost never do them unless the fish look distressed or the water smells...then I will do a big water change, which is 50-75% and my tanks are 265g with a FX5 with a 30g sump with 2 quiet ones and UV light running inside that; 125g with a FX5 and Fluval 404; 54g corner bowfront w/Fluval 404; 20g w/Aquaclear 110 (yes, the biggest HOB!! and it fits and I can take a pic if you want) and a small 5g elipse with yellow lake water probaly that has live clams from May still. But, my 265g is bare bottom with 2 large catfish and the 125g is overstocked. The fish have been living like this for years, survival of the fittest. Only thing I found out I hate though about cleaning the cannisters is seems more I clean them, more they break apart. I'm going to have to order a couple pieces for the FX5 and 404 as the last 3 times pieces are snapping on me, and I don't mess with them often, obviously.
I just learned years ago that if I invested in "mega" filtration and stocked it well, then it would do wonders for me in the long run. I know fish love fresh water, but the bacteria's doing its job...until we overfeed one time or the power goes out. I have test kits for when need be, but don't use them, nor do I use heaters. I do keep track though how long we go in between filter changes and was amazed at 13 months with 2 2' catfish and an algae eater in the 265g and the overstocked 125g!!!!
I just learned years ago that if I invested in "mega" filtration and stocked it well, then it would do wonders for me in the long run. I know fish love fresh water, but the bacteria's doing its job...until we overfeed one time or the power goes out. I have test kits for when need be, but don't use them, nor do I use heaters. I do keep track though how long we go in between filter changes and was amazed at 13 months with 2 2' catfish and an algae eater in the 265g and the overstocked 125g!!!!
why are you against small water changes? Just curious.
I have had fish for 30 years, and never did WC, never even heard of it until internet got big.
My current tank has been running for 4 years. Like I stated, the only time any water is changed is during power outage, and then only about 10% I would guess. I have never added any chemicals or done any tests what so ever on the water.
Only time I had any issue was recently when I had 100% water change consistently for I think at least 24hrs.
My maintenance for four years has been; add fresh batting, take a net and level gravel and turn the top a little. Then clean inside glass, and outside glass, next day change batting again, done for awhile.
I have had fish for 30 years, and never did WC, never even heard of it until internet got big.
My current tank has been running for 4 years. Like I stated, the only time any water is changed is during power outage, and then only about 10% I would guess. I have never added any chemicals or done any tests what so ever on the water.
Only time I had any issue was recently when I had 100% water change consistently for I think at least 24hrs.
My maintenance for four years has been; add fresh batting, take a net and level gravel and turn the top a little. Then clean inside glass, and outside glass, next day change batting again, done for awhile.
