Less Maintenance OK for an AquaClear Filter?

Are there any unintended consequences to performing less frequent, less deep cleanings of an AquaClear hang-on-back filter?

I have an AquaClear 110 filter on a 29 gallon aquarium. I used to disassemble the AquaClear, rinse it, brush the tubes, and clean out the impeller and motor with cotton swabs one to two times each month. Several months ago, I added a Filter-Max III prefilter to the AquaClear's intake tube. The prefilter keeps the media in the AquaClear pretty clean (bottom layer in the AquaClear is sponge, middle layer is filter floss, top layer is AquaClear BioMax). With the AquaClear's filter media staying clean, I modified my filter maintenance routine. Now the only filter I clean every week is the prefilter. The AquaClear box and media get rinsed out once or twice within a two month period. I rarely clean the impeller with cotton swabs anymore, either. With the less frequent maintenance, I've noticed the AquaClear runs much quieter. When I cleaned it more often, it rattled or made other mechanical noise. Now it is pretty much just a low hum. I have another AquaClear 50 filter that I placed a block of filter foam over the intake opening, and have had similar results with that filter's noise, too. Everything seems fine to me. Is there any reason I should do more frequent maintenance of the AquaClear filter?

 

I admire your dedication to filter maintenence but I think you are really over doing things in relation to cleaning AC filters.
I've been running two AC 110'S for nearly six years. All I do for maintenence is squeeze out the foam sponges once every three or four weeks. I've never had a need to clean the impellers. AC's need gunked up impellers to remain quiet. Never cleaned out the housing or tubes either.
My tank is over crowded w/ African Cichlids, the AC's keep the water clear & clean.

 

I admire your dedication to filter maintenence but I think you are really over doing things in relation to cleaning AC filters.
I've been running two AC 110'S for nearly six years. All I do for maintenence is squeeze out the foam sponges once every three or four weeks. I've never had a need to clean the impellers. AC's need gunked up impellers to remain quiet. Never cleaned out the housing or tubes either.
My tank is over crowded w/ African Cichlids, the AC's keep the water clear & clean.

You might be to something. I notice my AC HOB is more quite before I clean it.

 

The filters on our tanks are the one thing in our home that we don't want to keep spotlessly clean. As long as the water is still flowing through it freely and the impeller is working as it should there is no need to clean it. I clean out my HOB's a couple times a year.

 

Thanks for the advice. The AquaClear 110 is in a tank with a sand bottom. I occasionally find small amounts of sand in the bottom of the filter box. I'll just rinse out the box but leave the impeller and stack of filter media alone.

 

Are there any unintended consequences to performing less frequent, less deep cleanings of an AquaClear hang-on-back filter?

I have an AquaClear 110 filter on a 29 gallon aquarium. I used to disassemble the AquaClear, rinse it, brush the tubes, and clean out the impeller and motor with cotton swabs one to two times each month. Several months ago, I added a Filter-Max III prefilter to the AquaClear's intake tube. The prefilter keeps the media in the AquaClear pretty clean (bottom layer in the AquaClear is sponge, middle layer is filter floss, top layer is AquaClear BioMax). With the AquaClear's filter media staying clean, I modified my filter maintenance routine. Now the only filter I clean every week is the prefilter. The AquaClear box and media get rinsed out once or twice within a two month period. I rarely clean the impeller with cotton swabs anymore, either. With the less frequent maintenance, I've noticed the AquaClear runs much quieter. When I cleaned it more often, it rattled or made other mechanical noise. Now it is pretty much just a low hum. I have another AquaClear 50 filter that I placed a block of filter foam over the intake opening, and have had similar results with that filter's noise, too. Everything seems fine to me. Is there any reason I should do more frequent maintenance of the AquaClear filter?

I clean my filters in between water changes but only every 3-6 months. My AquaClear 110 needs to be cleaned every 3 (if not it WILL overflow onto the ground) and my canisters every 6 months

 

I clean my filters in between water changes but only every 3-6 months. My AquaClear 110 needs to be cleaned every 3 (if not it WILL overflow onto the ground) and my canisters every 6 months

My AC 70 filter has an overflow channel so it cannot over flow onto anything but back into the tank.
Its a small vein right next to the intake tube.
Now if I were to ignore the safety overflow channel its entirely possible for overflow.
I did not even know it existed and was concerned by all the talk around here regarding flooding.
There are two misguided ideas about AC filters.

1) They overflow. Not so. Its possible but not likely.
2) They will not self prime after a power loss. In most cases they will self prime. If the tank level is sufficient, the intake tube will not loose any water and will stay full. So yes, they do self prime in this scenario.