je_suis_ketan Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Hey, I'm just wondering how often people clean out their filters. I was advised not to do it too often as it gets rid of the bacteria in the filter, but I find that my filter gets clogged up with a slimy brown gunk pretty quick (2 weeks) shortly after it does't really have the guts to suck water through because the pads are full said brown gunk (4 weeks). BTW it is a Fluval 4 i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I usually rinse mine out each week when I do water changes. But I just give them a quick rinse in the bucket of old tank water to get rid of the worst of the gunge. That way most of the bacteria survive and you dont kill off the cycle. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Don't change unless you absolutely have to, even when you do have to, it might be a good idea to cut a piece of the old sponge off and place it with the new sponge, this way you still have some of the bacteria. Rinse your sponge in the water from your tank, this way you won't lose as much bacteria as when you rinse it in normal tap water. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Canister filter, I will rinse when I wash my filter which is around once every 9 - 12 months HOB filters.... fortnightly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
je_suis_ketan Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Cool cheers guys. I have been washing the sponges in the tap until now, but when I do I don't do a gravel vac. The reasoning behind that was that if I'm flushing out the bacteria in the filter, I'm not sucking out the bacteria from the gravel. But will do a rinse out in the tank water. Do you find that the gunk just makes a mess in the tank though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Chuck some tank water in a bucket when you do the water changes and rinse the filter in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I just rinse them whenever they get clogged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 They work best when they are 3/4 full of gunge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 They work best when they are 3/4 full of gunge true - dont try and get them really clean, just scrape / rinse out the worst and bung them back in. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I couldnt put a time frame on cleaning my filters if i tried.... i dont do them regularly, just when i feel i need too.... When they become quite decreased in flow, i usually give them a clean and they go for another couple months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fievels007 Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 I just give them all a rinse and a squeeze in the bucket of tank water I siphon out before pouring the water into my pots plants. Great liquid fertiliser! Tank seems very happy with a change and rinse each week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 The only time you clean your filter is when the return flow of water has lessened significantly. My Jebo 819 got cleaned recently - for the first time in 12 months. My son is about to clean his and it has been running 14 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 I agree with Caryl. Also, rather than rinsing it clean in water from the tank I just rinse off enough to get the flow going again. As I said earlier they work best when 3/4 gunked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 I don't rinse the buckets of noodles etc, I just change the filter wool and bung everything back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.