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 | Filter Cleaning |
sirbooks         Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004    | All right, the time has come for me to clean out my biological filter (the sponge thing). My question is, how do I do it? I've never cleaned it out before, and I want to make sure I don't kill the bacteria in it. I have heard that the best way is to gently rinse the sponge with some tank water. Is that right? Do I squeeze it out, as well? Please pardon me if some of these questions seem inane, I'm just trying to get clarification.  Thanks for your help.  Last edited by sirbooks at 03-Dec-2004 14:42 |
 Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 |      |
victimizati0n Banned Posts: 1217 Kudos: 1105 Votes: 31 Registered: 29-Apr-2004 | Well, when you clean it, you will loose bacteria. when i had my old sponge filter, i just filled the sink up with water, and make it clean. but washing it in tank water sounds like a better idea to me. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
FRANK   Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002  | Hi, While you are syphoning the water out of your tank, you can fill a bucket with old tank water (not including the gunk from the bottom, just the water)and then grab the sponge and stick it in the water squeeze it and swish it around in the water several times. Then throw the water away, and let some more tank water wash over the sponge. Squeeze it out, and then replace it back into the filter. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004 | Thanks for the help! That was pretty much what I was going to do. I am planning a water change later tonight, so I'll just do it then. Thanks again!  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
keithgh  *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003   | sirbooks I would do what Frank has advised you to do but with the addition of add a measured amount of Sera Bio Starter into the filter, this introduced the good bacteria back into the tank. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?  VOTE NOW VOTE NOW |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004 | Frank gives good advice. However, rinse the sponge in your siphon discharge as you fill the bucket. Rinse and squeeze until the water runs clear. Given the amount of surface area in a ponge it is virtually impossible to destroy the bio-load if you use the above method. Essentially, you are flushing the captured solids. If you want to destroy the bio-load, clean the sponge in your sink with tap water.  Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 04-Dec-2004 15:17 __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004 | Sorry, but the last two posts came a little late.  I already cleaned out the sponge, and it was filthy! In fact, the water from the filter could hardly pass through it, so there was very little output, and the water wasn't really being filtered much. I'm glad I cleaned it out (though probably later than I should have ), and now the filter is working great again. Thanks for your help, Frank! |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
smantzer Big Fish Posts: 378 Kudos: 347 Votes: 10 Registered: 02-Nov-2004  | How funny, I was just about to ask this question!  I was always told to just throw the old filter cartridge away... somehow that didn't seem too beneficial to me though How often would you guys suggest rinsing them? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 |  |
| openwater Fish Addict Posts: 565 Kudos: 551 Votes: 0 Registered: 24-Jul-2004  | I usually take my foams out of my filter and squeeze them out in the last or second last bucket of tank water when I'm gravel vac, I do weekly wc and vac due to a heavy bioload. You can use the foam for months as long they are intact and not trapping to much debris that can not be cleaned out. I suggest also getting the cermaic bio-rings for the ac filter, they work really well as a biological filter. Put the foam on bottom and run rings on top. Last edited by openwater at 06-Dec-2004 17:29 |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004 | I have had my current Aqua Clears for three years and I haven't bought a replacement sponge. __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| AngelZoo Fish Addict Posts: 771 Kudos: 501 Votes: 1 Registered: 16-Dec-2003 | I've had my AquaClear for a year, and only replaced the sponge media once. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 |  |
Babelfish  Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003  | I've had AC sponges on for a few years that have been badly clogged (substrate switch >.< ), just some heavy rinsing followed by som NIC worked. Never had to toss a sponge....dont' see much of a reason to really .^_^  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
| heaven2 Mega Fish Posts: 1065 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jun-2002 | Smantzer, what brand filter are you running? If its not an Aquaclear (which uses sponge filter elements) and if your filter uses cartidges, with a polyester type batting material and carbon sandwiched inside the la |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38 | |
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