how often do you clean filters

[matt2426]

Im looking for some input on how often you guys clean your filters my tank has been up for about 2 months now its cycled but I was informed to leave it alone for the first few months for filtration I have a fx6 and and a aquaclear 110 on a 125 gallon tank I don't have discus yet have about 3 dozen cardnials in there and 2 plecos so I guess I have two question when should I do my first filter cleaning and second once tank is established how often do you clean your filters thanks

[ColorfulRoundFish]

I set up my canister's first layer for mechanical media and the rest is biological.

Check inside the canister and if the mechanical media has a nice layer of detritus, poop, ect. then remove it and clean it up it in some tank water and replace it. I never mess with my biological media.

I clean my mechanical media monthly, but my tank is stocked with more fish. Your mileage may vary.

[Kirbs]

I have an AC, a single sponge and a double sponge filter in a 50 gallon with 6 wilds. I clean 1 of the filters every Monday on a rotating basis. So I guess the same filter gets cleaned once every 3 weeks. My water change is 40% every other day religiously. This includes wiping down the tank and heater. So far it works pretty good for me.

[jim LI]

i have eheim canister filters on my tanks. i clean them all once a month, no matter if they still has a strong flow. i replace all secondary and polishing filter pads, rinse the course pads and bio media in tank water.

[pastry]

Cannister filter... Every 2 months. I think I'm supposed to do it a few times a month but... Have to be honest

[Ryan925]

Cannister filter... Every 2 months. I think I'm supposed to do it a few times a month but... Have to be honest

I agree I don't clean mine often but I do use a prefilter on intake. That gets cleaned every wc. I removed fine filter floss from my eheim pro4+ I take the coarse sponge and hose it off every month or two. I shake the trays in the canister water to remove loose debris. Rinse canister and reassemble

[pastry]

I agree I don't clean mine often but I do use a prefilter on intake. That gets cleaned every wc. I removed fine filter floss from my eheim pro4+ I take the coarse sponge and hose it off every month or two. I shake the trays in the canister water to remove loose debris. Rinse canister and reassemble

Yes on prefilter! I use poret foam inside. 2 deferment densities. No floss. Best tip ever received on here!

[Filip]

I use filter floss wrapped around my canister intake that I clean or replace daily / semidaily .
I open my canister every 3-4 months but the amount of daily dirt and gunk on my filter-floss is bigger and messier than my whole canister gunk after 3-4 months of running, meaning if you keep your prefilters cleaned regularly there is barely any need to clean the inside of the canister 2-3 times a year.

[Bizarro252]

I run a Fluval 406 on my 55gal with a prefilter (Eihiem) and have been monitoring things for the past few months rather closley as I am growing out juvis.

I squeeze out all sponges, rinse the purigen and bio media in tank water, and thats about it - oh and I clean the impeller and magnet.
The first few months I cleaned them once a month, and they looked very clean inside, the sponges even looked new still, cleaned and replaced polishing floss anyways - I did not notice readings change from before to after.

This last time I let it go for 2 months, and it was much more dirty, still not nasty (like my FX6 on my Mbuna tank with no prefilter...lol) but was dirty enough I am glad I cleaned it. I noticed about 8-10ppm Nitrate rise every day before cleaning, and 3-4 per day over the last few days (just cleaned it this weekend) - so.... I would say every 1-4 months - depending on your stocking and feeding :P

Like Filip said above my prefilter sponge some days is worse than the sponges in the canister after 2 months and I clean that prefilter daily!

And get a prefilter!!

[adrian31@outlook.com]

I run a Fluval 406 on my 55gal with a prefilter (Eihiem) and have been monitoring things for the past few months rather closley as I am growing out juvis.

I squeeze out all sponges, rinse the purigen and bio media in tank water, and thats about it - oh and I clean the impeller and magnet.
The first few months I cleaned them once a month, and they looked very clean inside, the sponges even looked new still, cleaned and replaced polishing floss anyways - I did not notice readings change from before to after.

This last time I let it go for 2 months, and it was much more dirty, still not nasty (like my FX6 on my Mbuna tank with no prefilter...lol) but was dirty enough I am glad I cleaned it. I noticed about 8-10ppm Nitrate rise every day before cleaning, and 3-4 per day over the last few days (just cleaned it this weekend) - so.... I would say every 1-4 months - depending on your stocking and feeding :P

Like Filip said above my prefilter sponge some days is worse than the sponges in the canister after 2 months and I clean that prefilter daily!

And get a prefilter!!

I put prefilters in top of my tank overflows which I change daily. I have two more prefilters at the entrance to my sump and I change these every two weeks. Only cleaned my sump once when a course of medication for my fish caused some sort of black fluffy material to build up in there.