New Sunsun Hw-304b

Hi, running a fully cycled 30 gallon tank with penguin 200 HOB filter. Looking to upgrade to 65 gallon soon and purchased the sunsun hw-304b. I hooked it up today, and it's running concurrently with the HOB filter. How long should I leave it like this for beneficial bacteria to become established in the filter?

Also, how frequently should I be cleaning this filter? I don't know much about it other than it comes recommended on this site. Never used a canister before now. Thanks!

 

I clean mine every two months I replace all filters pads and also active carbon and little rinse the media.

 

I seriously just finished cleaning mine about 15 minutes ago. So I clean the main canister about once per month. Mine has been running since the end of October, and this was the first time I changed the filter floss versus just rinsing it, and I cleaned out all the tubing also. I got this long tubing brush, sort of like a bottle brush, specifically for tubing. Man was it disgusting. It usually takes an hour or so, but today’s task took me 2 hours. So be prepared that it is a bit of work.

As far as the other filter media. Remove the media from the other filter, put it in the canister next to your sponges. Then when you clean it out in about a month you can remove it. That way you won’t have to have 2 filters running at the same time.

If you don’t want to do that. You can leave them both running for about a month, and the cycle will have transferred to the canister.

Here is a great video on how to set up your filter. Now a disclaimer, the maker has a financial stake in the biohome media. I use ceramic rings instead. Works just fine. Otherwise I have mine set up just as described.

 

It usually takes 3-4 weeks for BB to build up in a new canister, even on an old tank. If you can move some media from your old filter into the canister, it could take a week or so. If you're replacing the 30g, then you can move both filters to the new tank and let it run for a few weeks.

Cleaning a filter depends on your stock and bio load. Usually every 1-3 months for most canisters.

I clean mine every two months I replace all filters pads and also active carbon and little rinse the media.

You don't need to replace the filter pads every time. I only replace mine when they're falling apart. You also don't need to use carbon unless you need to pull meds or tannins out of the water. I would fill up the space with bio-media. Also, when rinsing the contents of the canister, used treated water or old tank water.

 

It usually takes 3-4 weeks for BB to build up in a new canister, even on an old tank. If you can move some media from your old filter into the canister, it could take a week or so. If you're replacing the 30g, then you can move both filters to the new tank and let it run for a few weeks.

Cleaning a filter depends on your stock and bio load. Usually every 1-3 months for most canisters.


You don't need to replace the filter pads every time. I only replace mine when they're falling apart. You also don't need to use carbon unless you need to pull meds or tannins out of the water. I would fill up the space with bio-media. Also, when rinsing the contents of the canister, used treated water or old tank water.

Mine has 5 stages I replace filters every two months I don't give them chance to falling apart once they do is not catching all debris.. Active Carbon is the optional it works well for me keep water clean and free from odors..

 

I am so lazy when it comes to my canister, I don't have a sunsun. Since I bought it in July...I probably opened that thing maybe 4 times just to get media in and out.

 

I am so lazy when it comes to my canister, I don't have a sunsun. Since I bought it in July...I probably opened that thing maybe 4 times just to get media in and out.

I know I could probably wait a little longer in between cleanings, but I watched a video that said a dirty canister can contribute to algae issues. Especially the tubing. So that is why I decided to do the tubing this time. I have algae I can’t get rid of. Just trying anything I can to keep it at bay.

My husband has some super sniffing nose and complains often about the tank smells. (I seriously don’t smell anything) So I clean it primarily to prevent any odors at all. This time I added carbon for the first time. Hoping I can just replace the carbon once per month and go to an every 2 month cleaning schedule instead.

 

I know I could probably wait a little longer in between cleanings, but I watched a video that said a dirty canister can contribute to algae issues. Especially the tubing. So that is why I decided to do the tubing this time. I have algae I can’t get rid of. Just trying anything I can to keep it at bay.

My husband has some super sniffing nose and complains often about the tank smells. (I seriously don’t smell anything) So I clean it primarily to prevent any odors at all. This time I added carbon for the first time. Hoping I can just replace the carbon once per month and go to an every 2 month cleaning schedule instead.

Oh I'm not criticizing you at all AllieSten, I'm just putting my two cents in.

 

Gah - I thought cannisters "ran themselves" - supposed to be lower maintenance than a HOB? It doesn't sound like it...

 

Gah - I thought cannisters "ran themselves" - supposed to be lower maintenance than a HOB? It doesn't sound like it...

Well they can be, it just depends on how stocked your tank is. My tank is pretty full, so I like to keep an eye on my filter. Plus with my algae issues, it’s better to have a clean filter.

A lot of people don’t clean for 6-8 weeks without any issues at all. I just can’t do that. I need to be sure everything is looking okay in there. The last time I cleaned it, before today, I found 2 shrimp in there. Must have gotten sucked up in my filter. Lots for them to snack in though lol

 

Only clean my canister if I notice a difference in flow rate

 

It's impossible to come up with a "rule of thumb" for cleaning the canister filter - since the filth in the canister is driven by turbity of the water, the stocking of the tank ... as well as the type fish.

So you kind of have to experiment for yourself. I have goldfish canisters and HOB's that have to be cleaned every two weeks. On my cory tank, the canister and HOB's are cleaned every three - and they're fairly clean even then.

Filters that are too dirty really become nitrate generators.

My goldfish filters - you can tell they need cleaning at two weeks - but they're not gross and there's no "thick stuff" in them.

 

Filters that are too dirty really become nitrate generators.

Not quite true. All cycled filters, HOB or canisters, are nitrate generators regardless whether they're clean or dirty. If your tank is overstocked, you get more nitrates faster because more ammonia is produced, then converted to nitrites, then nitrates.

 

Not quite true. All cycled filters, HOB or canisters, are nitrate generators regardless whether they're clean or dirty. If your tank is overstocked, you get more nitrates faster because more ammonia is produced, then converted to nitrites, then nitrates.

Yes but it is similar to a tank that isn’t vacuumed enough. All the build up will add to the nitrate levels. So cleaning the canister does help lower nitrates if there is an issue. It isn’t a “nitrate factory” per se. it does contribute if there is a problem though.