Filter Cleaning

**Ciryature** · 03-05-2013, 04:47 AM

Probably a super stupid question and should go in the nooby section but how often should one clean their tanks filter? Like the HOB filters. Cause I have a sponge filter and I clean it every few months but just kinda squeezing it with my HOB filter media swish. But I don't really know when or how to clean the inside of the HOB filter, or even if I should. Well, I mean, I should right? Do I just take a sponge and kinda wipe the gunk out? How often should I do it? It doesn't really look that bad inside so... :/ Just a q.

**mizzoutank** · 03-05-2013, 05:18 AM

As long as you are rinsing the media in old tank water, you are doing it correctly.
if you rinse the media in new water that hasn't been dechlorinated...you've lost the cycle and bad news

In terms of cleaning the hob itself, I do that ever 2 or 3 months. (or whenever I notice a decrease in flow)
take it in the sink/tub and wipe/rinse it out (while the old media is sitting in a bucket of old tank water)

re assemble and presto, clear water

**Ciryature** · 03-05-2013, 05:24 AM

yeah, I rinse the media before I dump my water change water. I just have had my filter running for almost a year. My water is really clear I was just curious if it was necessary to clean the inside of the filter. If not unless the water is getting icky then... Guess I can wait another month or two. :)

**Hardy85** · 03-05-2013, 11:32 AM

Yea, i rinse my media and clean my filters (the plastics) once a month just to keep them the black rather than the water stains etc

**FreakyFishie** · 03-05-2013, 01:33 PM

Unless there's some sort of problem in your tank and you have to completely take it down and clean it, you want to leave the slime in your filter, it's holding beneficial bacteria :). When you rinse your filter media, you're doing it in tank water right?