Is this extremely dirty or average?

I clean my filter media every week and this is what the water I clean both filter cartridges looks
like after I swish them around in the water lol.
It's about 12 cups of tank water. But I couldnt find any picture online of how it normally would look, so was just curious if this how dirty filters usually get. I always noticed my filter starting make some noise, I'm worried it's going to start wearing out lol. I take it all apart and clean all the parts and put it all back together at least once a month. But I also have 8 fish in there, four are lower bio load they're tetra. should I be cleaning my filter more often? it's a marineland hang on the back filter, I've had it about 3 years I think. Trying to keep it in the best shape I can

 

My general rule would be keep your water clean and your filter dirty. Also, the amount of cleaning you need to do for your filter in my opinion, depends on it’s performance. For example, my tank is only 45L but the HOB can churn out 600L P/H, so I’ve not really had to touch my filter too much.

 

Nope pretty average. I would only clean your impeller housing in the filter. Not even once a month. Maybe every couple of months. Nothing else.

 

That's honestly much cleaner than I have ever seen. You might be cleaning it too much.

 

That’s not bad at all. You really don’t have to clean them that often, really only when your flow is greatly reduced.

I have two Hob on my 60 gallon and one of them I have to clean every 6-8 weeks. The other is a little larger and can go almost 3 months before i start having issues.

Breaking Down the filter itself and cleaning it monthly is not a bad habit but not necessary either. It can vary depending on the size and tank but as you said, listening to noises is good. That’s when I know it’s time to clean the impeller and housing. This is probably typical 1-3months. I’m sure a lot of people on here go much longer as well.

 

Thanks you guys!

 

I clean my filter media in the first five gallon bucket I empty out while vacuuming. Mine is so dirty you can't see more than a few inches into it. The next bucket is vacuum water only, and it's about the same as yours

 

My filter rinse water is jet black not brown and definitely no a soft tea colour like that.
“A dirty filter is a working filter “

That is not eve close to needing a clean.

WARNING WARNING WARNING.
Grace5414,
You wrote “ I clean both cartridges “

Number one rule of fish keeping.
Only clean part of the tanks filtration system each month/ fortnight.

 

I agree with "you may be cleaning it too much." Clean it when the water wont flow through freely and then dont worry about getting everything out of it. Just a swish and light squeez, in old tank water.

 

When I rinse my filter media and sponge filters the whole 5gals bucket is black! Can’t even see through it. I probably clean filters every or every otber water change as planted are kinda messy (as are plecos).

 

when i ring mine out it dirties the whole 5 gallon bucket i use haha thats clean imo