Proper way to clean your filter
- Thread starter Freshwaterfishlover
- Start date
For my tanks, I siphon tank water into a bucket and clean the sponges and filters in there. Don’t rinse anything in tap water.
That's exactly what I do, but I was told the reason my tank has a mini cycle after cleaning my filter is that the bio media is out of water for more then a few seconds.
What do I do with the bio media while I clean the rest of the filter? Can I pour out the filter water?
Ok so both are the separate bio/mechanical types.
I have been running 2x FX4s for a couple years now with no mini cycles. But could understood for such a new setup.
One thing I do is put all my bio-rings into bags, this makes them easier to move around. As soon as you get the can open rinse and then store the bio-rings in your main tank. Just drop them in. Rinse sponges thoroughly in tank water. Get everything back together saving the rings for last.
As soon as i it get all back together I use my siphon hose to fill the cannister with tank water.
I have been running 2x FX4s for a couple years now with no mini cycles. But could understood for such a new setup.
One thing I do is put all my bio-rings into bags, this makes them easier to move around. As soon as you get the can open rinse and then store the bio-rings in your main tank. Just drop them in. Rinse sponges thoroughly in tank water. Get everything back together saving the rings for last.
As soon as i it get all back together I use my siphon hose to fill the cannister with tank water.
Whenever I clean my canister filters I fill a bucket with tank water, then I unplug and open the canister and keeping the water in the canister I thoroughly rinse and ring out the sponges and pads in the bucket . The bio media is in baskets so I shake and rinse the bio media in a fresh bucket of tank water. I set all the media aside on a towel, you have to work quick at this point so the media doesn’t dry out. Then i empty the canister and refill it with tank water and replace all the media. Always use tank water or dechlorinated tap water, tank water is best though . I do a similar process on my hob filters . My tanks have a heavy load so I do this weekly
If you've got substrate, hardscape, etc in your tank, the beneficial bacteria you need attach themselves to the bio films that form everywhere. If your tank is in balance, you should be able to 'disturb' a filter and still have the tank maintain itself. Your filter media is of course going to house the greatest volume of BB.
I don't use filters with throw away media. I use mostly coarse sponge media in my canisters with exception of a few that have seachem matrix, ceramic rings, balls, etc as well as sponge. I also use AquaClear and Sechem Tidal HOBs. I rinse the HOB media in tank water. My canisters I use tap water and never have a cycle issue.
I don't use filters with throw away media. I use mostly coarse sponge media in my canisters with exception of a few that have seachem matrix, ceramic rings, balls, etc as well as sponge. I also use AquaClear and Sechem Tidal HOBs. I rinse the HOB media in tank water. My canisters I use tap water and never have a cycle issue.