my 69 gallon tank has been up and running for 2 months now and my filter has never been cleaned. i am using a fluval 304 canister filter. is it time to clean? please give me specific information on the right steps i should be taking. i am planning on doing a water change as well on the same day, can i do that?
Fluvals are easy.
-Remove about 5 gallons of water during your water change.
-Use this water to rinse the vertical coarse foam thoroughly. Clean it in the tank water like you'd clean a dirty sponge (I usually use about 1/2-gallon at a time and repeat with tank water until the foam doesn't produce any dirt.)
-The three levels of filtering in the fluval probably don't need cleaning, but.....if the bottom two layers are carbon, you can dunk them in more tank water to give them a bit of a rinse. (Don't waste your money replacing the carbon....just leave it in there as it is a great home for the beneficial bacteria.)
-The top tray should be bio-max balls (tubes, cubes, whatever). I've rinsed these once in a year....they don't get dirty.
-Put the trays and foam back into the Fluval and fill it to about 2 inches from the top, put the lid back on and its ready for business again.
