Now then - this depends on how well stocked your tank is - how big the filters are and how the flow rate seems to you.
Bit vague i know so here is what i used to do in my big tabk when it was overstocked (theoretically)
Once a month - id take it apart (the external filters) and empty all the water in the filter down the drain - as there was lots of gunk at the bottom i didnt use it to clean filter media.
Now in my filter (and not all filters run like this) the 1st stage (as you looked at it from above) was the last cleaning stage - so it had fine floss - i basically put all that in the rubbish and replaced with new.
The next stage was course foam - so i basically scrubbed this (as if you were scrubbing clothes by hand) in a bucket of water from the tank until most the gunk was off.
The final stage had my noodles in - i basically emptied the basket of noodles intot he bucket of tank water - moved them around a bit with my hand and then put them back intot he filter basket and pout everything back in order.
Of course being an external I also had to be sure taps and hoses were clear as well as well as impellors etc - but im sure you know how to dismantle your filters.
Of course - because my tank had a lot of fish and lots of messy big catfish - I had to clean it this often so as a comparison = my smaller tank (MY 65LITER FISHPOD) which i still have with fish - the two filters ( a hang on back and a small external) i do as follows
The HOB is NEVER cleaned (its a pain to restart and doesnt need it anyway as its full of bioballs with a small lump of foam to prevent the floating bioballs from going into the tank)
The external is unusual in that the top layer of filter media is the also the 1st stage of cleaning (the pump is at the bottom of the filter bucket) - but the principal is the same -
except this only needs doing once every 6 months as its full of small fish.
IF you have livebearers in your tank and you want the fry - itgs best to check the filgters every two weeks as youd be amazed how many fry end up in the filters (and they usually do better in the filter than the tank ime)
So as I said - it depends on your tank, the filter(s) and the fish
The easiest method is to
Check the water quality (by eye and with test kits)
Check the flow of water leaving the filter into your tank - get used to what the normal is like and if you notice things slowing down - clean the filter.
Other than that - old saying - if it isnt broken (ie its working fine) dont fix it (leave it alone)
BTW - dont ever clean a filter when the shops for spares are shut - the number of times ive taken a fliter apart - put it together n found a seal or tap etc now leaks and I cant do anything about it... Also have spares to hand if you can - its often actually cheaper in the long run (and easier) to just buy a spare filter of the same make n model - that way its a simple case of swapping media over in a matter of minutes n no cycle to worry about - then you can fix the older filter when you can afford it or the shops are open
BTW - Sorry i not been on in a while 'stuff' going pn here (long story) but my fish are all ok (i think)
Sun Jan 09, 2011 1:22 am
on tff... it's like everyone got bored of fishkeeping and decided to take an oath of silence regarding their tanks. So I'm going to ask a question
