How often should i clean the carbon filter? Also should i clean the spounge in there to or just leave as is?
Filter Cleaning??
- Thread starter trigoudarammi
- Start date
You do not need to use carbon unless you are removing meds, and something else from your tank. It becomes un active in 2 weeks, and then it is useless.
Sponges should be cleaned about 2 times a month. To clean them you need to swish and squeeze them in a bucket of old tank water. Only replace when they are falling apart.
Sponges should be cleaned about 2 times a month. To clean them you need to swish and squeeze them in a bucket of old tank water. Only replace when they are falling apart.
I have a 180 gallon tank so my tank is more forgiving than a smaller one.
I clean my sponge in my wet/dry system once a month. I replace the disposable "cut to fit" pads at the same time. I vacuum my tank once a month and I keep two bags of carbon in my sump at all times. I rotate changing the carbon in each bag every month. I also do 20% (35 gallons) water changes every two weeks.
I have grown to not like anything other than a wet/dry system because it's soo much easier to clean and replace media.
Late- Alex
I clean my sponge in my wet/dry system once a month. I replace the disposable "cut to fit" pads at the same time. I vacuum my tank once a month and I keep two bags of carbon in my sump at all times. I rotate changing the carbon in each bag every month. I also do 20% (35 gallons) water changes every two weeks.
I have grown to not like anything other than a wet/dry system because it's soo much easier to clean and replace media.
Late- Alex
What kind of filter do you have? When you say sponge "in there," I'm wondering if you mean the spongy plastic material designed to harbor the nitrifying bacteria like in a Tetra Whisper power filter. If so, water passes through it after being filtered by the filter cartridge, and it shouldn't collect very crud unless the cartridge is too clogged and causing water to flow over the cartridge instead of through it. Either way, you want to be careful cleaning it because you don't want to destroy the bacteria on it. At most, I'd swish it in the aquarium water. Chlorine or chloramines in tap water might be harmful.
Carbon is not normally washed, except to rinse it before its first use so not to cloud the water. As stated, it only lasts a few weeks anyway and is replaced. If you're asking about the filter cartridge that contains the carbon, I usually just swish it in my drained aquarium water with my weekly water change, and replace it altogether monthly.
Carbon is not normally washed, except to rinse it before its first use so not to cloud the water. As stated, it only lasts a few weeks anyway and is replaced. If you're asking about the filter cartridge that contains the carbon, I usually just swish it in my drained aquarium water with my weekly water change, and replace it altogether monthly.
Yes i mean the sponge, but also do i need to replace the carbon one or can i just leave it if i dont need to replace it do i need to clean it or do i need it at all? Another thing can i just wash the sponge in the aquarium.
trigoudarammi said:
Carbon has a limited life cycle, it is more of an absobent then a filter. So keep changing it for new. Wash the spong in a bucket of water from your aquarium that you are taking out for a water change. If you wash it in your aquarium the tank will be full of filter crap and cloudy.
You don't need the carbon at all, but if you do decide to use it you need to replace it at least once a month. The carbon will not be working any longer and it will be filled with crud 
. I would just put another sponge in there, you can buy big ones that can be cut to fit the space
. I would just put another sponge in there, you can buy big ones that can be cut to fit the space