Clean your filter media?

[Waverider]

I read the documentation that came with my filter and it says to clean you filter media twice a month. Won't that destroy all the biological components of the filter? Or do you just wash it off in a bowl with aquarium water? Is this an important process to do?

I am sure I need a better filter, but **** all this has added up already so I need to chill until all my bills are paid!

[msouth468]

What type of filter is it?

I have a power filter. And I replace the media once a month. I don't wash it off or anything as it eventually will clog and stop working.

[HolyBull]

I rinse my floss and cartridges under high pressure water from my sink when i do my weekly, and replace it the next month

[Waverider]

Wow, they censor the word d.a.m.n. ?? Strict!

I have a TopFin filter that came with the tank. I believe that is the PetsMart brand, and I can tell it sucks. I want to get one with the bio-wheel once money is better. http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 9766&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030059&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1141419418965&itemNo=30&Nao=24&In=Fish&N=2030059&Ne=2

So I can replace the filter without destroying the bacteria? I thought they grew in the filter media and that was a major part of the filtering process.

Will they just repopulate a new filter cartridge once that is installed?

[TKOS]

A major part of the bacteria grows int he filter media since it has such a huge surface area. But some bacteria also grows on the gravel and decorations, tanks walls, etc...

They will repopulate the new filter media given time. But is is much cheaper to clean the old media. Using old tank water just rinse the media in it to reduce buildup and unclog it. The bacteria is firmly attached to teh media and little will be removed this way.

I use sponges in my filter and have used the same sponges successfully for over 3 years now. That is a lot cheaper than buying new ones each month. I use Aquaclear hang on filters and also a fluval canister filter in my larger tank.

[Hound]

Cleaning the filter media in a bowl of old tank water should be fine. At least make sure the filter doesn't clog up. Yes much of the bacteria you need live in the filter media. With a light enough bio load changing the filter cartridge shouldn't be too bad and you can always squeeze some of the mulm from the old cartridge into the tank and that should help seed the new one.

While I won't argue with anyone who uses a penguin / emporer filter I'd also take a look at AC filters myself. I kinda like the sponge idea vs having cartridges.

[tinytnt]

Are you referring to any kind of special aquarium sponge, or just your ordinary run of the mill sponge? I've seen that the sponge method is used by many many people, but nobody has made this clear. And if you can use the same one for three years, well, I definately want to look into it! Yes, me is cheapo. ;)

[mishi8]

Are you referring to any kind of special aquarium sponge, or just your ordinary run of the mill sponge? I've seen that the sponge method is used by many many people, but nobody has made this clear. And if you can use the same one for three years, well, I definately want to look into it! Yes, me is cheapo. ;)

Aquaclear Filters are nice. They have space for you to customize your filter media. In mine, I use two sponges (Aquaclear brand) that get rinsed out once per week and ceramic biomedia (also by Aquaclear). The only time I would swap out media is if I need to add carbon to remove meds. In that situation, I just swap it with one sponge. There is enough bacteria in the other sponge and ceramic media that the biofilter is not disturbed.

BTW, I much prefer the Aquaclear over the Penguin Biowheel I have on my other tank. Much quieter, and has more flexibility for using different media.

[mishi8]

I rinse my floss and cartridges under high pressure water from my sink when i do my weekly, and replace it the next month

Best not to use untreated tap water to rinse off your media...the chlorine will kill the bacterial colony. It's really no different that just completely replacing the media.

[rrkss]

I rinse my sponges and cartridges under high pressure tapwater. My nitryfying bacteria live on the biowheel and in the ceramic rings which get left alone.

[Hound]

I wouldn't use just any sponge in the filter :) . There are sponges sold for AC filters, but you can buy bulk sponges from places like Big Al's Online and just cut them down.

[Rosemary]

I rinse out the lumps from the filter media every week in old water when I do a water change.

I replace the media every few months, but put in a snippet of the old media to get the bacteria going.

[TKOS]

Stick to aquarium sponges. Fish stores sell many varieties. I have used the Fluvavl replacements in the past in place of a whisper cartridge as it can be jammed in place.

Regular household sponges are often treated with anti-mildew agents and thus could leach something into your aquarium.

[Roan Art]

I haven't replaced my Bio Wheel cartridges in months. I just rinse and wipe them in old tank water.

Roan

[cyberbeer65]

I rinse my filter media in regular old tap water bi-weekly,and that includes my ceramic filter media.I have never lost my bio-filter colony.