I searched the forums a bit and didnt find exactly what I was looking for. I would like to know how often you should fully clean the filter like should you change the media a couple times then clean the filter or clean after every media change, and what about bio filters? when they get all the long brown stringy stuff on them what do you do? will it eventually grow into the tank? how should you clean the bio-foam and how often? thanks!
Cleaning filter??
- Thread starter beachbum21984
- Start date
You only need to swish out the media in old tank water every 2 weeks. And only replace it when its falling apart.
beachbum21984 said:
I only clean the filter when it is fully clogged, a partially clogged filter is more efficient then a clean one. Replace it when it rips or falls apart.
Do you mean a bio wheel? You can wipe off the string stuff with a napkin. Lots of different types of filters out there, so you should take a look at the owners manual.
We need to know what kind of filter you are talking about.
I myself have a Bio-Fil 2 wet/dry system (240 gallon capacity) for my 180 gallon and I don't really have that much to do when cleaning. I just replace the two top filter pads, change 1 bag of carbon (two in sump) every other month, and replace another rectangular filter pad in the sump since I have two. I clean out my bio-balls whenever I see they need it, usually about once every six months. It takes me about 15 minutes to do all that.
Late- Alex
I myself have a Bio-Fil 2 wet/dry system (240 gallon capacity) for my 180 gallon and I don't really have that much to do when cleaning. I just replace the two top filter pads, change 1 bag of carbon (two in sump) every other month, and replace another rectangular filter pad in the sump since I have two. I clean out my bio-balls whenever I see they need it, usually about once every six months. It takes me about 15 minutes to do all that.
Late- Alex
my filter is a Aqua-Tech 20-30 im just cycling my tank now so I didnt want to go and tear my filter apart when I only needed new media thanks for the help! :dive:
when will i know I need to change the filter because I have always seem to change the filter when it turns a little greenish/brown color. my ammonia is down to about 0.15 ppm and I am waiting for it to be 0 then I will check the rest of the water parameters
The brown is what you want. Its the bacteria that's cycling your tank. Keep it! If your ammonia or nitrites go above 0.5ppm, do a water change. Sounds like you are entering the second phase of the cycle soon.
my ammonia just spiked at over 6 ppm and the tank has been cycling since the 21st does this mean im in the second stage of the process?