Cleaning HOB filters

G

gabrie30

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Feb 15, 2008
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Two questions :help:

(My tank and filters are listed in bold below)

I looked in the sticky, it had some information but I feel like there is a lot more to discuss. I have a few questions regarding cleaning and, er, not cleaning.

As for cleaning the filter pad, I do this at least every other week when doing a water change. Gently swish it around in tank water I siphoned out. This cannot be all there is to the cleaning process. I have gunk built up on all different parts of the filter, especially where the water leaves into the tank. Should I be rubbing this stuff off with tank water? Can I scrub the whole unit down with tank water without removing the bacteria?

What are the consequences of cleaning your filter pad but not the rest of the unit?
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I have the Penguin 100 Bio Wheel, rated for tanks up to 20 gallons, pumping 100 gallons per hour. This is a 20 gallon long, moderately planted tank (very small doses of excel daily "1/5 capfull(ish)", and soil master select substrate), should I consider adding a sponge filter? I know the HOB takes away CO2 for plants, but getting a new filter is out of the question. Would a small sponge filter help my tank at all? My tank is doing fine without one but my spending addiction is telling me to get one. I figure I have an aerator so why not?
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
well your cleaning the pads the right way. you can also from time to time take the filter apart and clean it. over time if you dont clean the rest of the hob it can clog or slow down the flow.
Click to expand...

Ditto Mg.

Weekly rinse the mechanical filtration media in WC water and remove debris from the intake.

Monthly remove the bio-wheel and rinse in WC water as well removing the intake assembly and cleaning the impeller and impeller housing.

gabrie30:

These are my typical frequencies but yours may vary.

TR
 
I only scrub out the hard parts of the filter if the buildup of gunk seems to be slowing flow, which ends up being every 4-6 weeks on average. I take it to the sink and use tap water to avoid a mess; your bacteria are mostly in the filter pad anyways, so don't worry about them. A bottle brush is handy for the intake tube; most of the rest can be wiped with a dish scrubber or your hand.

Also, instead of rinsing the pad in the siphoned tank water, I rinse it in my Ceriodaphnia tank. They love filter gunk.
 
I have run an Emp 400 on my 45 for over 7 years now and never once I have rinsed the bio-wheels. I do clean off the plastic ends and pegs as well as the little wells they sit in. But this is to insure they spin freely.

I also have 23 AquaClears running and I almost never clean more than the impeller and the impeller well. Again this is to insure it spins at the optimal rate.

Almost all rinsable media is cleaned weekly. A sure sign that more things need rinsing/cleaning is a reduction of flow.
 
So does this mean you never have to buy replacement filter pads? Doesn't the charcoal eventually stop working? My tank requires three filter pads, I have never replaced them, but at what point would I need to?
 
I don't suggest ever rinsing the bio wheels either. There's no need to.

I have stopped buying the cartridges for my emperor and penguin HOBs. Just get the media baskets and cut some cheap floss to fit the basket. If your water quality is good, carbon isn't all that necessary.

I buy this mechanical media at Petsmart. It's cheap and effective, keeps my tanks crystal clear. http://www.hbhnet.com/Products/floss1.htm
 
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