hello all, its the time for bob's first filter cleaning, and I need to know how to do it without flooding my basement. its a fluval fx5, and I have until next saturday to learn how to clean it.
how do I clean a fluval fx5?
- Thread starter FishRfine
- Start date
Of course, the cleaning regimen will depend upon what media you have in the filter. However, in general, you would do the following:
1. Unplug filter
2. Rotate to CLOSED position and disconnect both valve fittings from top...make sure valves are closed.
3. Connect tubing to drainage fitting on bottom of canister
4. Open valve and drain canister into floor drain or other receptacle
5. Remove three media trays and lay on plastic
6. Remove six foam pads and clean under running tap water. Rinse canister interior if necessary.
7. Hold each media tray over sink and rinse biomedia with water FROM TANK
IMPORTANT: Keep Biomedia wet/moist...do not allow to dry out
8. Replace foam pads, reinsert trays into filter, etc.
Note: After assembling stack of three media trays inspect to make sure that tops of foam pads are making contact with bottom of next media tray or bypass is likely.
9. Close botton drain valve. Reattach top valve fittings and rotate to open position...wait for canister to fill.
10. Turn on filter...wait for pump to electronically cycle.
11. Top off tank
Most of this is explained in the accompanying manual
1. Unplug filter
2. Rotate to CLOSED position and disconnect both valve fittings from top...make sure valves are closed.
3. Connect tubing to drainage fitting on bottom of canister
4. Open valve and drain canister into floor drain or other receptacle
5. Remove three media trays and lay on plastic
6. Remove six foam pads and clean under running tap water. Rinse canister interior if necessary.
7. Hold each media tray over sink and rinse biomedia with water FROM TANK
IMPORTANT: Keep Biomedia wet/moist...do not allow to dry out
8. Replace foam pads, reinsert trays into filter, etc.
Note: After assembling stack of three media trays inspect to make sure that tops of foam pads are making contact with bottom of next media tray or bypass is likely.
9. Close botton drain valve. Reattach top valve fittings and rotate to open position...wait for canister to fill.
10. Turn on filter...wait for pump to electronically cycle.
11. Top off tank
Most of this is explained in the accompanying manual
brianp;1377103; said:
7. Hold each media tray over sink and rinse biomedia with water FROM TANK
TAP WATER MIGHT KILL THE GOOD BACTERIA !!!
lol yeah no tap water on anything, also dont change all of your media at once. I have 2 FX5's and to make my media last longer, i will take a bucket of tank water and rinse my media (squishing it with my hands to get the gunk out) and just put it back in the canister... it lasts longer, and its cheaper than replacing those darn pads because they are just so expensive! lol
I close the water inlet valve first, then 2 seconds later close the outlet, this gets out the little bit of water between the can and the hose, so it wont spill on the floor.
and i dont think it will damage anything, atleast it hasnt damaged mine.
and i dont think it will damage anything, atleast it hasnt damaged mine.
the fx5 comes with an instuctional DVD that would show you how to clean it step by step if you have it.