Cleaning Filter

[ladyoutlaw50]

I have a HOB filter on both of my tanks -- how often should I take them off and clean -- and what should I use --
I rinse the media in tank water and wipe down the the outside of the filter once a week!

[Halelorf]

You don't really need to clean the media. Just a quick dunk in some tank water to remove excess debris should be enough. You don't really want to clean it much or risk having a mini or full blown cycle happen.

[ladyoutlaw50]

that is all I do is rinse the media in tank water -- but i was wondering about the intake tube and such --

[Algenco]

I give mine a good cleaning 3-4 times per year

[ladyoutlaw50]

I give mine a good cleaning 3-4 times per year
Ok thanks --

[MandyL]

You probably don't want to be rinsing your media that often either, once a month should do it.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Ok thanks for the advice -- I appreciate it

[bandittcj]

You probably don't want to be rinsing your media that often either, once a month should do it.

With a properly established filter and filter media, rinsing the filter media more than once a month is no problem. All you're doing is removing the loose crud. The needed bacteria adheres to the media and is not effected from rinsing. If there is a problem it's usually from not enough filtering.

[johnl]

Rinse in tank water whenever the flow from the filter slows down.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I take the intake tube off and scrub that out occasionally, maybe once a year. I have a biowheel filter so changing the cartridges isn't even a problem and I do that every 3 months. I rinse the pad on my canisters about once every 2 months (low bioload on them) and I lightly rinse the rest of the media once every 6 months to get rid of the larger crud.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Ok --- thanks everyone!!:19:

[bandittcj]

Rinse in tank water whenever the flow from the filter slows down.

You should never let the crud build up to the point where the water flow slows down. By that point your filtering can become compromised and besides, don't the fish we keep deserve proper care?

[Commodore 64]

You should never let the crud build up to the point where the water flow slows down. By that point your filtering can become compromised and besides, don't the fish we keep deserve proper care?

There really is no need to get self-righteous here.

If water quality is routinely tested, at least for ammonia, and fish don't show signs of stress, I really don't see a problem with using lower flow as an indication of when a filter needs to be cleaned.

[smcurry83]

I have two HOB filters. Once a month a rinse the filters (in tank water) in one of them and also clean out the intake tubes and wipe down the inside of the housing. Them next month I do the other filter. I haven't had any problems with mini cycles yet.

[ladyoutlaw50]

my tanks have maintained great water quality so far -- will try rinsing a little less often --I do test once a week and keep an eye on my gang. Everyone seems to be thriving.

[bandittcj]

There really is no need to get self-righteous here.

If water quality is routinely tested, at least for ammonia, and fish don't show signs of stress, I really don't see a problem with using lower flow as an indication of when a filter needs to be cleaned.

I wasn't being self-righteous at all. It's more just common sense. If you properly maintain your tank there is no need to be constantly testing your water. I haven't owned any test kits for many years. I have even bred discus without having to test the water. Using lower flow to determine when to clean filter is just lazy. Hey, I can still see the fish so I guess the water doesn't need a water change, right? Don't we have a responsibility to keep our fish in the best conditions possible?