proper cleaning of filter?

ser_renely · 04/09/2008, 11:12 AM

how often and how should I clean a filter? Its not that old, just a lot of sand in it.

96GTRagTop · 04/09/2008, 11:15 AM

type of filter would help a bit...........

ser_renely · 04/09/2008, 11:17 AM

actually an eclipse cartridge.

inachu · 04/09/2008, 11:30 AM

Mine had sand and at first I used tap water !!!!!
(major mistake)
eek!

What you do is siphon some tank water into like a 5 gallon bucket. Put enough in to shake the sand out.
Example I use a fluval and I have a total of 4 sponges.

take only 3 out and keep the 4th in for bacteria growth.

I rinse mine out out until they look almost new.

ser_renely · 04/09/2008, 01:34 PM

ty, good idea!

ser_renely · 04/09/2008, 01:51 PM

what about ro water?

Michael · 04/09/2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by inachu
Mine had sand and at first I used tap water !!!!!
(major mistake)
eek!

What you do is siphon some tank water into like a 5 gallon bucket. Put enough in to shake the sand out.
Example I use a fluval and I have a total of 4 sponges.

take only 3 out and keep the 4th in for bacteria growth.

I rinse mine out out until they look almost new.

hi inachu, just a friendly question my friend what do you by mean 4 sponges in your fluval, do you mean you have 4 actual sponge material sponges in the fluval trays? if so what are they and why have you got the sponges, i mean what do they do for your tank, let me know, and hopefully i can help you with advice for you filter materials

inachu · 04/09/2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeydj
hi inachu, just a friendly question my friend what do you by mean 4 sponges in your fluval, do you mean you have 4 actual sponge material sponges in the fluval trays? if so what are they and why have you got the sponges, i mean what do they do for your tank, let me know, and hopefully i can help you with advice for you filter materials

I am not willing to make changes on the fly but the only minor change I am making is with bio balls.

I will clean them out tonight and I bought some pebble sized rocks that are advertised to filter amonia nitrates and nitrites...
So as of now I have the 4 commercial sponges bioballs and phospahte remover and those bio round hollow rocks.

Sometimes I change the stuff out as:

bio hollow rocks top cup.
Carbon rocks middle
Phosphate bottom

I see nothing wrong with sponges as they work as advertised and I am still a bit IFFY on putting live rock small chunks in my new FLuval. Besides I still need to buy more live rock for main tank.

Also if I have a lot of live rock in the main tank then no need for them to be in the filter.

kevin2000 · 04/09/2008, 03:18 PM

Quick rinse in a bucket of SW is all it takes .. how often depends on "how dirty" .. would suggest no less than once a week.

inachu · 04/09/2008, 03:33 PM

One last idea in cleaning your filter also is to make sure your salt water intake is at least halfway up.

When I bought my filter it was touching the sand at the bottom.

This is not a good idea.

ser_renely · 04/10/2008, 08:29 PM

thats what is happening to mine! Too low, maybe a cut is in order?

04/09/2008, 11:12 AM	#1
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	proper cleaning of filter? how often and how should I clean a filter? Its not that old, just a lot of sand in it.

04/09/2008, 11:17 AM	#3
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	actually an eclipse cartridge. __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

04/09/2008, 01:34 PM	#5
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	ty, good idea! __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

04/09/2008, 01:51 PM	#6
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	what about ro water? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

04/09/2008, 03:33 PM	#10
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Re: proper cleaning of filter? One last idea in cleaning your filter also is to make sure your salt water intake is at least halfway up. When I bought my filter it was touching the sand at the bottom. This is not a good idea.

04/09/2008, 11:15 AM	#2
96GTRagTop Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 142	type of filter would help a bit...........

04/09/2008, 11:30 AM	#4
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Mine had sand and at first I used tap water !!!!! (major mistake) eek! What you do is siphon some tank water into like a 5 gallon bucket. Put enough in to shake the sand out. Example I use a fluval and I have a total of 4 sponges. take only 3 out and keep the 4th in for bacteria growth. I rinse mine out out until they look almost new.

04/09/2008, 03:18 PM	#9
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Quick rinse in a bucket of SW is all it takes .. how often depends on "how dirty" .. would suggest no less than once a week.

04/10/2008, 08:29 PM	#11
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	thats what is happening to mine! Too low, maybe a cut is in order? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!