filer cleaning

[DarrylR]

I have a Top Fin 30 and 20 on my 29 gallon tank. The filter intake tube is getting brown, can I soak the intake tubes in rubbing alcohol and hot water? Would this be okay, or not?

I usually soak it in hot water, and bang it against the sink, and most of it comes out.

[NeonFlux]

Well, I wouldn't until the whole filter starts to flow slow due to clogging. But it's up to you if you need that brown-looking clog bacteria gone out of site.

[BoredAgain]

I wouldn't think it would require any type of cleaning solution at all, just get a bottle brush and scrub away.

[grannylvsfish]

I wouldn't think it would require any type of cleaning solution at all, just get a bottle brush and scrub away.

exactly, just scrub it off, it comes off pretty easy. I have not cleaned mine, I think its good bacteria isn't it? when it gets bad I make scrap it off.

[Marinemom]

I would not use rubbing alcohol or any other chemical to clean it. Just running water and something to wipe it off should do. It is usually removed quite easily.

Marinemom

[Reddog80p]

Just use a bottle brush, It will come right off. Cleaning your intake tubes will not hurt your benificial bacteria.

[NeonFlux]

Looks like everyone's gonna go for a nice scrub then,huh?? lol. Well I guess it's gonna be the brush then

[DarrylR]

A bottle brush can do it, but at the U point, no brush can bend around the corner.

[msjinkzd]

I have the same issue Darryl, i just leave it, lol

[chunkoblue]

A bottle brush can do it, but at the U point, no brush can bend around the corner.

I fill the tube with a little hot water and cover each end if the tube with my thumbs and give it a good shake.. then repeat a few times. That gets almost all of it out of the bend.

[wataugachicken]

or you could tie a cloth to a piece of string and just pull it through the tube. it'll catch everything in the bend.

[root81]

I found a 1200PSI air compressor will blow most of the gunk out, just make sure it's aiming away from you. That method only takes about 2 seconds as well. I would assume that most normal air compressors would have the same effect, but that was the one I had available to me.

[Rbishop]

A bottle brush can do it, but at the U point, no brush can bend around the corner.


Marineland makes one that does...they even include it in their canister filters. A long flexible plastic wire attached to a swivel and a short piece of bottle brush. You feed the wire thru and pull the brush thru.

[allwet]

Marineland makes one that does...they even include it in their canister filters. A long flexible plastic wire attached to a swivel and a short piece of bottle brush. You feed the wire thru and pull the brush thru.

yeah im using one similar.. flexible wire with small/large brush each end.these are especially good for cleaning aqua clear tubes/assemblys.paid under $4 for mine.allwet.....

[dixienut]

yeah, i have one with a plastic instead of wire with a 2 inch brush on it. most catalogs sell these, if i found one, it isn't hard..i also have a 3ft one with a small cable coated with rubber for cleaning tubes from canisters, i bought it at a dollar type store for kitchen cleaning helpers? really!