how often should i service my fx5 , ive had it for about 5 weeks now ,no micro bubbles and the flow is really strong . ive heard of people waiting for it to start blowing little bubbles , which im assuming is a sign of starting to clog up. thanks for your help.
fx5 maintenance
- Thread starter bigkahuna
- Start date
I always recommend cleaning any filter once a month. If you let it sit forever all of that debris will breakdown and end up as nitrate and phosphate (algae, lower water quality, etc.). Most filters have a significant amount of bypass, so even with completely clogged media you can still have a decent amount of flow.
Remember that a filter does not remove waste from the water , it only collects it for you to remove. If you don't remove it you are not filtering that well.
Remember that a filter does not remove waste from the water , it only collects it for you to remove. If you don't remove it you are not filtering that well.
Mech filtration hasn't really occured until u remove the crap your filter media has trapped. Bio filtration can still occur, although may not be as efficient in a dirty filter. Thats why (with my fluval 404s) I clean out the sponges that do most mech filtration at least once a month, but only rinse out bio media every few months.
It depends on your fish load, and yes the little bubbles mean that your filter pad is clogged. It happen to me. I would change the pad once a month and I would buy the pad you can buy in sheets which is cheaper. never wait for bubbles.