Need Help with Freshwater!

ihatter · 03/25/2008, 08:40 AM

Hey guys,

My friends dad has a freshwater fishtank that he is looking for me to take care of. I've had a bit of experience when it comes to saltwater, however, I haven't cleaned any tanks in like 6+ months and needed some help coming up with a list of things to do to the tank.

He's looking for me to come to his house about once or twice a month to clean it. The tank is roughly 100-120 gallon tank, with 3 different kinds of filters. Two of the filters are ones that hang on the back of the tank. One of the hangonback filters has two biowheels inside of it. The other contains a bag of what appears to be small white pieces, some kind of biobale I would imagine. The third kind of filtration is a canister filter, which I have absolutely no experience with and need the most help with.

My plan for my monthly visit would be:

1. 25% water change
2. Replace biowheel pads and clean filter
3. replace the biobale stuff inside second hangon filter and clean it
4. Clean canister filter? Once again I have no idea
5. Clean glass
6. Use a testing kit to test the water

Please if anyone could help me, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks much guys.

expatgoalie · 03/25/2008, 08:47 AM

open up the canister filter and see if he is running carbon or if it is just filter sponges???

Canisters are essentially a remote HOB filter, pretty simple stuff.

Aside from that, 20-25% wc's, replace sediment filters, dump 50% of the carbon and top off with fresh, clean all moving pump parts, and clean the gravel bed...

matthewscars · 03/25/2008, 08:49 AM

My dad has the same.

He does a 60% change every month. Sift through the gravel and suck out all the crap. then refill it.

Replace activated carbon where needed and rinse out any socks or the like.

Thats about it. I never test the water in my fresh water tanks. aslong as you do a 60-70% at the end of the month and a 10-15% in the middle, you will be fine.

EllieSuz · 03/25/2008, 09:34 AM

Probably not advisable to change all the filtration medium at the same time. Ask your friend if he would agree to twice monthly and change out half the filters, sponges whatever. If you change all of it, the system will take a big beneficial bacteria hit.

Myrddraal · 03/25/2008, 10:15 AM

Don't change the biowheels, they shouldn't ever need replacement. The white stuff could be zeolite, it's an ammonia binding agent. As long as the tank is fully cycled he shouldn't need it in all the time, especially if you're going to be doing regular maintenance. With the canister, just shake out the filter pads in your water change bucket after you siphon out the water. Replace any carbon that's being run too.

ihatter · 03/25/2008, 02:45 PM

Thanks so much for the advice guys!

The tank is fully established and has been running for a while. If there is no carbon in the filters, do you guys think it is a good idea to start running it?

Also, after I takeout the water for the water change, do I simply replace it with tap water combined with a chlorine conditioner?

If I do decide to do a chem test, what kind of numbers should I be looking for?

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, you've all been such a major help!

03/25/2008, 08:40 AM	#1
ihatter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 139	Need Help with Freshwater! Hey guys, My friends dad has a freshwater fishtank that he is looking for me to take care of. I've had a bit of experience when it comes to saltwater, however, I haven't cleaned any tanks in like 6+ months and needed some help coming up with a list of things to do to the tank. He's looking for me to come to his house about once or twice a month to clean it. The tank is roughly 100-120 gallon tank, with 3 different kinds of filters. Two of the filters are ones that hang on the back of the tank. One of the hangonback filters has two biowheels inside of it. The other contains a bag of what appears to be small white pieces, some kind of biobale I would imagine. The third kind of filtration is a canister filter, which I have absolutely no experience with and need the most help with. My plan for my monthly visit would be: 1. 25% water change 2. Replace biowheel pads and clean filter 3. replace the biobale stuff inside second hangon filter and clean it 4. Clean canister filter? Once again I have no idea 5. Clean glass 6. Use a testing kit to test the water Please if anyone could help me, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks much guys.

03/25/2008, 08:49 AM	#3
matthewscars Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 657	My dad has the same. He does a 60% change every month. Sift through the gravel and suck out all the crap. then refill it. Replace activated carbon where needed and rinse out any socks or the like. Thats about it. I never test the water in my fresh water tanks. aslong as you do a 60-70% at the end of the month and a 10-15% in the middle, you will be fine. __________________ A plane passed silently overhead, the streetlights, and the buds on the trees and the night, were still. Current Tank Info: 90g Reef/35g Sump with Foam Rock Wall. 10g Propagation Reef. 55g Goldfish Tank.

03/25/2008, 09:34 AM	#4
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Probably not advisable to change all the filtration medium at the same time. Ask your friend if he would agree to twice monthly and change out half the filters, sponges whatever. If you change all of it, the system will take a big beneficial bacteria hit. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

03/25/2008, 10:15 AM	#5
Myrddraal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 431	Don't change the biowheels, they shouldn't ever need replacement. The white stuff could be zeolite, it's an ammonia binding agent. As long as the tank is fully cycled he shouldn't need it in all the time, especially if you're going to be doing regular maintenance. With the canister, just shake out the filter pads in your water change bucket after you siphon out the water. Replace any carbon that's being run too. __________________ ~Jayson

03/25/2008, 08:47 AM	#2
expatgoalie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central NH Posts: 52	open up the canister filter and see if he is running carbon or if it is just filter sponges??? Canisters are essentially a remote HOB filter, pretty simple stuff. Aside from that, 20-25% wc's, replace sediment filters, dump 50% of the carbon and top off with fresh, clean all moving pump parts, and clean the gravel bed...

03/25/2008, 02:45 PM	#6
ihatter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 139	Thanks so much for the advice guys! The tank is fully established and has been running for a while. If there is no carbon in the filters, do you guys think it is a good idea to start running it? Also, after I takeout the water for the water change, do I simply replace it with tap water combined with a chlorine conditioner? If I do decide to do a chem test, what kind of numbers should I be looking for? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, you've all been such a major help!