How Do I: Clean my Fluval 105?

click · November 19th, 2009

I have a Fluval 105 canister filter and I am a bit confused on how I am supposed to clean it and what I am supposed to replace. For those who know, the 105 Fluval has 4 sponges (2x2) right where the water enters the filter, then the water goes through a drawer with a sack with (I assume cos it's black) carbon like pebbles, then through an empty drawer and then through the drawer with the media pellets (whitish). I was told by the LFS that I am never to replace the media pellets but I forgot to ask when/how to replace the other parts.

I think it's about time to replace some of the sponges. Last time I opened up the filter I rinsed them in the water that came out of the tank, but they are still dirty. I assume that's the reason my water is turning clowdy lately. I bought regular sponges and carbon sponges but I'm in doubt if I should replace all sponges at once, or 2 in the first month and then the other 2. Also, should I replace the sack with the carbon pellets? I can't tell if it's dirty obviously since it's black. Should I leave the empty drawer between my carbon sack and my media empty or is better if I add something there?

Sorry if there are too many questions. I did a forum search but I came empty. Any help is appreciated.

aquarist48 · November 20th, 2009

Hello Click. I had a fluval years ago. I highly recommend that you keep your sponges and only rinse them in siphoned tank water. Give them a gentle squeeze and put them back into your filter. The fish store was correct in telling you not to replace your media pellets and they too should only be rinsed once in a while in siphoned tank water. Keep the sponges until they are falling apart. If they do begin to fall apart then only replace them a little at a time. (You can also add new sponges to your tank for at least two weeks prior to changing them out this way they will be seeded with good bacteria)

The cloud in your tank may be a bacterial bloom which is very common in new tanks up to one year. If this is the case then it will eventually go away on it's own once it has run its course. (and via routine water changes) I seriously doubt your sponges are the cause of your cloud. Your beneficial bacteria is in the sponges as well as the media pellets.

The black pellets in your filter is your activated carbon and should be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks so that it doesn't leak all of the minerals it's collected back into the tank.

As for the empty compartment I would suggest adding either more sponge or more media pellets for housing good bacteria. Do you have any filter floss in there?
Ken

click · November 20th, 2009

Thank you Ken.

I will replace the carbon sack and keep up with the water changes. I change about 7 gallons of water once /week not due to my nitrates level (which were never above 10 yet) but to give the fish some fresh water and get rid of some of the leftover diatoms and clean the substrate.

Will the carbon sponge I already have be a good replacement of the activated carbon sack? I will add some regular sponge in my empty compartment since I do not have filter floss nor do I know what that is

Shawnie · November 20th, 2009

great advice from ken....and yes your carbon sponges will be fine....I replace my bags about 3-4 weeks after ....i also use quilting backing and pillow stuffing as filter media..you can get that at any craft store ..make sure they are perfume/dye free..you can get huge bags for really cheap..works faboo for filter floss

aquarist48 · November 20th, 2009

Hello Click.

I think you would be fine to replace the sack of activated carbon with a carbon sponge. Too, I would replace it the same as I would the carbon pellets in the sack. Filter floss also helps to filter impurities. It can be poly pillow stuffing or quilting batting material 100% Poly with no additives found at your local Walmart in the craft section. It could be added to one of your compartments and be discarded when it becomes dirty. You wouldn't have to depend on it for your good bacteria. I discard mine but some folks will rinse this also in siphoned tank water, use it until it's falling apart, and use it as good bacteria media. I rely on my sponges and other media for my bio filtration and not what I call the floss. (I use the batting material in my filters)

If I remember correctly the media pellets for the good bacteria go in the top chamber and I would place the "floss" in the bottom chamber. The floss will also help to keep the media above it clean too.

Ken
Shawnie LOL I had to step away for a minute. You're fast!

click · November 20th, 2009

Thank you both. I know what I have to do now.

DRock914 · November 20th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquarist48

Hello Click. I had a fluval years ago. I highly recommend that you keep your sponges and only rinse them in siphoned tank water. Give them a gentle squeeze and put them back into your filter. The fish store was correct in telling you not to replace your media pellets and they too should only be rinsed once in a while in siphoned tank water. Keep the sponges until they are falling apart. If they do begin to fall apart then only replace them a little at a time. (You can also add new sponges to your tank for at least two weeks prior to changing them out this way they will be seeded with good bacteria)

The cloud in your tank may be a bacterial bloom which is very common in new tanks up to one year. If this is the case then it will eventually go away on it's own once it has run its course. (and via routine water changes) I seriously doubt your sponges are the cause of your cloud. Your beneficial bacteria is in the sponges as well as the media pellets.

The black pellets in your filter is your activated carbon and should be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks so that it doesn't leak all of the minerals it's collected back into the tank.

As for the empty compartment I would suggest adding either more sponge or more media pellets for housing good bacteria. Do you have any filter floss in there?
Ken

I'm just curious, when you wash your sponge do you have to use tank water. What if you used cold water? Cold water doesn't kill bacteria isn't it only hot water that kills bacteria?

aquarist48 · November 20th, 2009

Drock you don't want your bio media exposed to chlorine and you don't want to rinse away too much of the bacteria even in siphoned tank water.
Have a good weekend.
Ken

DRock914 · November 20th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquarist48

Drock you don't want your bio media exposed to chlorine and you don't want to rinse away too much of the bacteria even in siphoned tank water.
Have a good weekend.
Ken

Oh ok I knew I was missing something there. Thanks, have a good weekend too.

Meenu · November 20th, 2009

What would happen if you don't use the charcoal? I don't want to worry about replacing it. Could you use extra ceramic rings?

jdhef · November 20th, 2009

I have a Fluval 205. The bottom basket holds two carbon bags. I change the top bag on the first of the month and the lower bag on the 15th of the month. The middle basket and top basket both contain the ceramic bio rings. I think fluval recomends changing them every six months, but I don't think that is needed. After one year I did change out my bio rings. I took as many from the lower basket that would fit in the top basket and put new in the middle basket. After a month a took the ones in the top basket out, put some into the middle basket, and put new in the top basket. (But I now believe there was no need to replace the rings after a year)

As far as the sponges go, after about 9 months they got sort of flimsy, so I replaced two of the sponges on week and a month later replaced the other two. I probably could have replaced all four at once since the majority of the bacteria in living in the bio rings.

So...(finally, I know), if it were me, I would buy some bio rings and fill the second basket with them instead of floss or carbon. I would be a little worried that the floss would impeade water flow thru the cannister.

DRock914 · November 20th, 2009

They must not make sponges they way they used to. My dads tank still has the original sponge about 20 years old on his canister filter, all he does is clean it and it is not near falling apart.

Shawnie · November 20th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdhef

So...(finally, I know), if it were me, I would buy some bio rings and fill the second basket with them instead of floss or carbon. I would be a little worried that the floss would impeade water flow thru the cannister.

I dont have your type of canisters, I use cascades, but I think they all work the same way?

(guessing LOL) and extra filter floss, quilting backing, and pillow stuffing, doesnt "impeade" water flow a bit...and it does allow you to have extra media established at all times for those severe cases of MTS

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