Stupid question- how to clean ac110 media

[hybridtheoryd16]

I am glad this thread was resurected because I have found the secret to cleaning the Ac line of filters.

Step 1
treat the filter just like every other filter on the market and just lift the filter out of the case.

Step 2
Stand back and watch as your once crystal clear tank becomes cloudy and generally yucky. After cussing has ceased move to next step.

Step 3
Realize that you will have to unplug the filter before you can maintenance it. So that the dirt will stay in the filter case after it drains out of the (FILTER) sponge. (Filters catch and trap dirt and have to be cleaned to remove it) (dirt traps, trap dirt from moving past them and then release all the dirt when moved)

Step 4
Realize that you will then have to dump this dirt filled tank water out of the filter case at every cleaning. After you throw something or punch a baby move to next step.

Step 5
Remove filter from tank and do a through cleaning. Place filter back in box and then place box in closet. Then go to your local LFS and buy a filter that has a workable design behind it.

Problem solved

 

[tcarswell]

I am glad this thread was resurected because I have found the secret to cleaning the Ac line of filters.

Step 1
treat the filter just like every other filter on the market and just lift the filter out of the case.

Step 2
Stand back and watch as your once crystal clear tank becomes cloudy and generally yucky. After cussing has ceased move to next step.

Step 3
Realize that you will have to unplug the filter before you can maintenance it. So that the dirt will stay in the filter case after it drains out of the (FILTER) sponge. (Filters catch and trap dirt and have to be cleaned to remove it) (dirt traps, trap dirt from moving past them and then release all the dirt when moved)

Step 4
Realize that you will then have to dump this dirt filled tank water out of the filter case at every cleaning. After you throw something or punch a baby move to next step.

Step 5
Remove filter from tank and do a through cleaning. Place filter back in box and then place box in closet. Then go to your local LFS and buy a filter that has a workable design behind it.

Problem solved

Try this instead.


1. Unplug filter !

2. Lift out bio and throw in a bucket of tank water

3. Take out the trays and clean sponges. etc

4. Take a 1/2 inch piece of vinyl tubing siphon out all the garbage that may have been left behind. Watch the filter siphon refill effectively and mildly flush the motor in the process.

5. Replace the basket.

6. Crack a beer and enjoy your QUIET , Dependable, flow monster. (for the money ofcourse)

 

[Bderick67]

Try this instead.


1. Unplug filter !

2. Lift out bio and throw in a bucket of tank water

3. Take out the trays and clean sponges. etc

4. Take a 1/2 inch piece of vinyl tubing siphon out all the garbage that may have been left behind. Watch the filter siphon refill effectively and mildly flush the motor in the process.

5. Replace the basket.

6. Crack a beer and enjoy your QUIET , Dependable, flow monster. (for the money ofcourse)

You forgot to plug the filter back in

 

[synspilus guy]

i have 2 110acs on my 90 gal. i use the sponge on the bottom, 2 (stacked) blue/white filter fiber (the kind you buy in sheets and cut to size) and my biomedia. i have found that the best way to change/clean the filter fiber is to unplug the ac, pull the fiber out and go hose them down to really get the dirt out. put them back in with the biomedia on top, again and plug them back in. this method GREATLY reduces the backwash that would otherwise come out. NOTE: make sure the fiber is a snug fit side to side in the basket. hope this helps

I use this same method and I love my ac110. I run a rena xp4, fluval 405, and a ac110 to polish the water.

 

[bitteraspects]

Try this instead.


1. Unplug filter !

2. Lift out bio and throw in a bucket of tank water

3. Take out the trays and clean sponges. etc

4. Take a 1/2 inch piece of vinyl tubing siphon out all the garbage that may have been left behind. Watch the filter siphon refill effectively and mildly flush the motor in the process.

5. Replace the basket.

6. Crack a beer and enjoy your QUIET , Dependable, flow monster. (for the money ofcourse)

sounds right to me.

one thing people seem to forget is that the filter traps all the gunk under the sponge so it doesn't go back into the tank. so common sense would tell you that you need to siphon it out when you clean the filter. and if you use substrate, you will already have your gravel vac out, so its not like it will take any extra effort to hit the filter chamber while you're at it.

when i clean mine, i usually just throw the bags of bio max into the display while im cleaning the sponge (and filter chamber if necessary). if your filter is set up right, you shouldn't have much build up in your bio media, so throwing it in the tank, shouldn't create too much of a mess, and even if a little bit of crap gets back into the display, the filter will clear it back up when you plug it back in.

unless you have a heavily stocked tank, you wont need to siphon the chamber every WC if you dont want to. but it is good practice to clean your filters and glass while youre doing WC. i mean s**t, youre already in the tank, might as well clean it while youre there.

 

[tcarswell]

You forgot to plug the filter back in

Smacks forehead

 

[Toby_H]

I am glad this thread was resurected because I have found the secret to cleaning the Ac line of filters.

Step 1
treat the filter just like every other filter on the market and just lift the filter out of the case.

Step 2
Stand back and watch as your once crystal clear tank becomes cloudy and generally yucky. After cussing has ceased move to next step.

Step 3
Realize that you will have to unplug the filter before you can maintenance it. So that the dirt will stay in the filter case after it drains out of the (FILTER) sponge. (Filters catch and trap dirt and have to be cleaned to remove it) (dirt traps, trap dirt from moving past them and then release all the dirt when moved)

Step 4
Realize that you will then have to dump this dirt filled tank water out of the filter case at every cleaning. After you throw something or punch a baby move to next step.

Step 5
Remove filter from tank and do a through cleaning. Place filter back in box and then place box in closet. Then go to your local LFS and buy a filter that has a workable design behind it.

Problem solved

LOL You are doing an aweful job at making the Aqua CLear fitlers look bad But it's fun watching you try!

Are you telling me that you just now figured out that you have to turn a filter off before servicing it?

What filters have you been using all these years that you didn't have to turn off first?

Isn't it common sense to turn something off before working on it? I fear the day you try to change a fan belt!

lol.........

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

LOL You are doing an aweful job at making the Aqua CLear fitlers look bad But it's fun watching you try!
There not a bad filter as long as you don't mind them leaking,spilling on to the floor with micron media, not filtering much, and having to clean out the filter case at every serviceing.

Are you telling me that you just now figured out that you have to turn a filter off before servicing it?
No i thought that the ac filters were better than this with there large fan base. So i thought I would ask to see if everyone has this pityful problem. Looks like its common to me.

What filters have you been using all these years that you didn't have to turn off first?
I have never once turned off my emperor 400's x5, my emperor 280's x2, my aquatech 30-60, my penguin 350, or my redsea nano. You can lift out the filter and all the dirt stays attached. wow
Isn't it common sense to turn something off before working on it? I fear the day you try to change a fan belt!
Well i have built 3 old school hotrods from the ground up resto's. But since 99% of modern cars imploy a electric fan not driven buy a motor since around 1985 or so. I may be safe.
lol.........

I just can not understand for the life of me why you guys like these filters. I mean if i was just starting out and this was the only filter that i had used then i would think it was great as well. But after I have owned pretty much every large HOB filter on the market I can see the light.

 

[FSM]

This seems kind of like arguing about religion.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Try this instead.


1. Unplug filter !

2. Lift out bio and throw in a bucket of tank water

3. Take out the trays and clean sponges. etc

4. Take a 1/2 inch piece of vinyl tubing siphon out all the garbage that may have been left behind. Watch the filter siphon refill effectively and mildly flush the motor in the process.

5. Replace the basket.

6. Crack a beer and enjoy your QUIET , Dependable, flow monster. (for the money ofcourse)

i am sure that was a joke. But i have to ask.

Do you seriuosly think it is alright to have to syphon out all the dirt that the filter sponge drops as you lift it out?

I mean no one is running these things to operate like a plumbing trap. There supposed to be filters.