AquaClear HOB Filter Maintenance

[nickag9]

Hello all,

I'm still fairly new to HOB filters and I have a question about maintaining/cleaning them. I am running two AC30 filters on my recently setup 20 gallon long tank right now and I think it's time to "clean" them. The tank has been up and running for almost 2 months now and it has been fully cycled for the last 3 weeks. I was told not to touch the filters during the cycling process and I did just that. Well now that the tank is cycled and it's been a few weeks I figured I'd ask where to start?

As for my filter media, I am using the traditional setup in the first filter: sponge, carbon, bio media.

In the second filter I am using: sponge, sponge, bio media.

My question is which filter should I "clean" first and do I need to replace anything? It would make sense to me that the bio media should be fine since cleaning it would have negative effects on BB. I have also been told that the sponges should only need to be replaced once a year, but what about the carbon insert? Do I clean it the same way I clean the sponge (in the old tank water) and now that my tank is cycled, do I even need it anymore? I read somewhere that the carbon was only helpful when you first start a tank so would a second sponge benefit me more now that the tank is cycled? Sorry for all of the questions, I just want to make sure I know what I need to clean/replace and when/how to do it. Now that I have the fish I want in the aquarium, the last thing I want to do is mess up the Nitrogen cycle... Anyway, thanks in advance for all the help.

- Nick

 

[Oldfishdude]

Nick, I clean the sponges every 2-4 weeks ( depending on the fish load) and replace the carbon about every 3-4 months. I have bio media thats ?x years old and just rinse it when servicing the filter.

 

[NOLAGT]

alright...you can start with any one of the 2 filters u want. What I do is when I do a water change I clean one filter...next change I clean the other and so on. I do water changes about once every 2 weeks or so...I got a lot of tanks so it goes longer sometimes but I test the water for nitrates to keep that down.

As for the carbon...it is probably used up now...I run it for a month when I do run it. Or I run it after a water change for a day or two then pull it out until next time. Its not needed but it does clear the water that extra step sometimes. I dont think you need to run it 24/7 tho

As for your sponges...no need to ever replace them unless they start to fall apart.

How I clean my AC filters, I take the sponge out and squeeze it in the tank water I drained out. If you use a python hooked to the sink you can get some tank water in a bowl or bucket. I also take the biomax in the bag and lightly swish it around in the same tank water to knock off any loose junk. In the water out the water in the water out the water and repete. Then I take the filter off the tank and dump out the water sitting in it..they usually have some loose junk on the bottom under where the sponge is.

If you dont run carbon you can run another sponge but you dont need to.

 

[Toby_H]

Great questions…
　
It’s a good idea to only clean one filter at a time (per week for example)…
　
　
For sponges… when you are doing your weekly water change and have a bucket/container of ‘old tank water… just pull the sponges out of the filter, drop them in the bucket and repeatedly squeeze them. Then do not have to be 100% “cleaned”, just get the bulk of the waste out. If you do this regularly (at least monthly) they should be bad at all.
　
That is the cautious way to clean them. Personally I pull my AC sponges out and thoroughly rinse them in warm tap water…
　
You only have to replace the sponge when it is falling apart. I have Aqua Clear sponges that are close to if not over 10 years old and still in use.
　
　
I don’t personally use carbon unless for a specific purpose, and I haven’t used it at all for years. The general consensus is it needs to be replaced once per week to once per year. Manufacturers often claim they have a superior carbon that lasts longer. It’s your choice who to trust on this topic.
　
To properly ‘recharge’ or ‘recycle’ carbon your supposed to soak it in a strong bleach solution then bake it in the oven at a very high temp for quite a few hours. This process is generally uneconomical and it’s easier just to replace it.

　
It’s ideal to never clean your bio media, but at the same time it’s ideal not to have any physical waste (fish poo) in it. In an HOB you are inevitably going to get some physical waste in the bio media and need to clean it. Again, with a bucket/container of ’old tank water’ just swoosh it around somewhat gently. You don’t have to baby it but don’t create a whirlpool in your container either.
　
Like the sponges, bio media doesn’t need to be replaced unless/until it is falling apart.

 

[jschall]

To properly ‘recharge’ or ‘recycle’ carbon your supposed to soak it in a strong bleach solution then bake it in the oven at a very high temp for quite a few hours. This process is generally uneconomical and it’s easier just to replace it.

I'm fairly sure carbon is impossible to recharge without having a much higher temperature oven to produce the high temperature steam necessary to "activate" carbon.

 

[vfc]

I have two AC110s. I purchased an extra sponge for filter maintenance.

When it is time to clean the sponge, I place the dirty sponge, along with the Bio-Max bag, in a plastic container that I place next to the AC110. I then put in the spare sponge and place the Bio-Max bag on top of it. I take the dirty-wet sponge (in the container) to the laundry room and rinse it out well with tap water.

This method works better for me. Less mess and work (no five gallon bucket to fill and then carry to the sink to empty) plus the sponge gets a much better cleaning running it under a high volume tap in the laundry tub.

I do the same for the H.O.T. Magnum canister that I have hooked up to a surface skimmer. I don't use any bio-media, so when I need to clean the filter, I just swap out the insert with a clean one.

 

[Dane]

You mean you're supposed to clean those? The only time I clean out my ACs is if the flow starts dropping. Then I just take them out and rinse them off in a bucket of tank water. I take the whole filter off and clean out the box at that time as well. Usually about ever 6 months in my well stocked tanks.

 

[nickag9]

Thanks for the great input and advice so far guys!

My only question now is whether to ditch the carbon and replace it with a second sponge or filter floss, or do I buy a new bag and put it back in there...

Either way, the plan is for me to clean the first filter tonight with my 25% water change. This is the filter with the carbon in it, so I think I will stop at the LFS on my way home and pick up another bag of it (that or I'll grab some filter floss, I just want my tank as "crisp" as possible). Before I remove the filter from the tank I'll pull out the sponge and bio balls and place them in my 5 gallon bucket of old tank water and I'll trash the carbon. I'll swish the bio balls in that water and clean out the sponge as best as I can in the bucket. If it's not clean enough for my standards I'll take it to the sink and let my tap water give it a good cleaning. From there I'll take the filter off the tank, clean the gunk out of the intake tube and empty the bottom of the filter tray. After that I'll put it all back together, refill the tank and turn it back on. If all goes well and my tank parameters aren't negatively effected by the cleaning I'll do the same to the second filter with my water change next week. Thanks again for the great info!

 

[chesterthehero]

clean the media whenever the waterflow is restricted..
change the carbon every month or three..

the carbon is for chemical filtration.. if its not an issue then you dont need it..

 

[NOLAGT]

dont use floss