Filter maintenance

[Hevydevy]

This is going to sound stupid, I know, but anyway:

A few weeks ago I set up my tank and my filter and heater etc etc without any problems, BUT, my g/f chucked out the box my filter came in and the instructions etc for maintenance.

Here are my questions.

1) How do I maintain my filter?
2) What do I do to maintain it? ie. what do i clean/replace etc?
3) How often? Obviously I don't want to be constantly getting rid of my beneficial bacteria?

I know they sound like ridiculously obvious questions but I'm yet to learn!!

[Fishguy2727]

What type of filter do you have exactly? What size tank is it?

[Lady Hobbs]

Your questions are not ridiculous at all and one we all learn from the beginning.

You don't have to replace your filter media for some time. When you do water changes, simple sloosh it around in the fish water before you throw the water out. Don't run the media under tap water as the tap water has cholorine in it and will kill bacteria you are trying to keep.

Maybe every 6 weeks I take my filter to the sink and clean the shaft and the lift tubes out with a brush and water. Never use cleaning adgents or soap. If you have a bio-wheel, leave those wheels as is and never clean them.

That's about it.

[Fishguy2727]

Most carbons last for an average of about one month, so that means that is the longest it shoudl stay in the tank. However I have completely stopped using carbon and with proper water changes there should be no ill effects from the lack of carbon. What fish do you have in there?

[Hevydevy]

It's about 100 Litres or a bit more than 35 gallons.

The link below (you'll need to cut and paste it) is not the exact filter that I've got but very similar.


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The tank houses mostly cichlids

[Fishguy2727]

What are the dimensions of the tank? 100L is less than 35 gallons, so I want to make sure we are all the same terms here. What size tank is your filter rated up to?

[Hevydevy]

Sorry, I was trying to convert to gllons without checking my conversions!!

It's around 100 litres.

But you know what? I've just found the box the filter came in and it says the filter is for tanks 50-100L so I'm assuming those idiots at the shop I first strted going to gave me bad advice? Am I right in suggesting I should be getting a filter that can handle twice the size of my actual tank size?

I might have to upgrade.

The filter is called a Resun Magic-Jet Filter Magi-380

[Fishguy2727]

You should definitely go with a filter rated for at least twice the volume of the tank, and go with a biowheel if you can. Canisters are great as well.

[Hevydevy]

Cool, thanks for that I'll upgrade my filter and buy a biowheel asap