how often do you clean out AquaClear filters?

tks4d2

tks4d2

AC Members
Aug 10, 2006
231
0
0
I have a brand new tank setup and I was wondering how often you guys rinse out the media? Thanks
 
I try to rinse off the filter media every water change or two. So at least every other week. It's good to check on the media every once in awhile just to make sure they're not clogged with particles. If they're clogged, it slows water flow as well as suffocates your good bacteria (they need fresh water because they need oxygen to do their thing).

I also take apart the entire filter about once a month. I clean all the filter tubes and scrub the inside out for algae and crud. Like I said, it's important to maintain good flow. Some people forget to do it for months and the flow stops to a trickle, eep!

Make sure you rinse your media in tank or other dechlorinated water. The chlorine and chloramines in tap water will kill off your colony of good bacteria.
 
I run my AquaClear 110/500 with 2 sponges. I alternate in cleaning the sponges about every 3 weeks. Then I give the whole thing a good clean out every 2 months. I find the flow rate does decrease over the course of 2 months but not by much.

I clean the sponges out in dechlorinated water. On the actual filter itself I find hot water and plenty of elbow grease is the way to go.
 
I clean out my AC filter media every other week and the filter itself once a month. What I do is very much like what plah831 does. I do a complete teardown of my filter at least once a month.
 
wow thanks for your input. one more question...how do you guys clean out the intake tube?
 
One suggestion I have been given in regards to cleaning any filter is that you use the water you have already siphoned from the tank to rinse you filter media. The main reson for this is to maintain any beneficial bacteria that has grown on the filter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom