When and how to clean my AC 50

[SkarloeysMom]

I just got my AC 50 running at the beginning of July and a couple weeks ago moved it on to my cycling 20g long tank. The new tank is cycled and all is well so when and how do a clean my filter out? I'm I supposed to tank the sponge out and rinse in tank water while I'm doing a water change or rinse it in RO water sometime between water changes?

[Spyder]

I use tank water to rinse sponges. What other media do you have in the filter?

[rsretep]

i also have a ac 50 and cleaning them could not be easier...simply remove the sponge and rinse in tank water during a change therefore keeping the beneficial bacteria colony in tact.....i also have ceramic ring insert and a carbon insert which i think i will remove after reading post after post about the unusefullness of carbon unless removing meds from the water

[SkarloeysMom]

I use tank water to rinse sponges. What other media do you have in the filter?

Just the bio max and the sponge. I took out the carbon and I won't be putting anymore in.

[A340]

I just cleaned my AC110 today (found out I had 2 neons living in there as well, lol!) Anyway, I completely disassemble it, using a filter brush to clean out the intake pipes under running water, drain the filter and go in with a sponge. As for the sponge itself, I rinse it under warm tap water. This will kill some of your bacteria, but not all, plus you have quite a bit in the tank as is, so using tap water to rinse the filter sponge will not harm your tank or fish. I recently removed the carbon insert (for my plants) and only have the ceramic rings in which I also give a quick rinse under the tap. Put it all back together and your set to go.