When Should I Clean My Filter?

Hiya! I have a 20 gallon long tank that has been cycled/in the process of cycling. (last time I checked, everything was fine including ammonia) I currently have 4 guppies in there, and I have a Marina SlI'm Filter S20. I'm new to this hobby, so I'm wondering when/how to clean my filter. It's pretty orange/brown, but I wanted to get other people's opinions before I cleaned it because I think I've heard its good to not completely replace filters frequently since a lot of the healthy bacteria is attached to them. What should I do? Is it time to clean it? If so, how? I really appreciate any answers, thank you in advance! - Caroline

 

If you want to "clean them" just take a bowl full of water out of your aquarium and rinse them off in the bowl to get all the gunk off. If your still in the process of cycling, keep using those filters. If you really think you need to replace the filter, add the old filter in with the new. The main thing is DO NOT use water from your tap to clean them, the chlorine will kill the bacteria you need to finish your cycle.
Another way to do it is to only replace one filter cartridge at a time, that way the old cartridge is still doing its job with the bacteria, while the new one is establishing the bacteria.
Hope this helps

 

If you want to "clean them" just take a bowl full of water out of your aquarium and rinse them off in the bowl to get all the gunk off. If your still in the process of cycling, keep using those filters. If you really think you need to replace the filter, add the old filter in with the new. The main thing is DO NOT use water from your tap to clean them, the chlorine will kill the bacteria you need to finish your cycle.

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate you. I'll try and clean them today, but I'll leave the original filters in for a while longer, I don't think they'll need changing anytime soon. For sure!! Thank you for reminding me. How often do you recommend cleaning the filters?

 

When the outflow is impacted.

Modify your filter. Any commercial cartridge is trash. Use some good sponge/filter floss for mechanical. And bio rings for biological. Do it section by section so you don’t knock out all your B.B. all at once.

 

When the outflow is impacted.

Ah OK sounds good, I think that's what I've heard. Thank you so much, I really appreciate your answer.

Modify your filter. Any commercial cartridge is trash. Use some good sponge/filter floss for mechanical. And bio rings for biological. Do it section by section so you don’t knock out all your B.B. all at once.

Ah OK interesting. Do you know where or how I would find that?

 

remember that your filters probably have charcoal in them...which is fine, but if you add any medications to your tank, the charcoal will filter them out. I'm not advocating for meds, water changes are better, but just in case you do med, you have to take the filters out and replace with something else. quilt batting will work as long as there is no fire retard in it, as well as pillow stuffing.
Also, I'd just do a quick rinse at water changes...you'd be surprised how long filters will last even though they look disgusting

 

Each water change I just squeeze put any gunk from my foam sponge/carbon packet and then put it back into my filter. I swoosh it around in the tank water, never use fresh water as itll kill the bacteria you've built up.

I also added biomedia ceramic balls from Fuval hopefully those help

 

remember that your filters probably have charcoal in them...which is fine, but if you add any medications to your tank, the charcoal will filter them out. I'm not advocating for meds, water changes are better, but just in case you do med, you have to take the filters out and replace with something else. quilt batting will work as long as there is no fire retard in it, as well as pillow stuffing.
Also, I'd just do a quick rinse at water changes...you'd be surprised how long filters will last even though they look disgusting

Oh I see, very true. I'll keep that in mind. I don't prefer meds either, but thank you for letting me know just in case! I try to do regular water changes.
I noticed that, which is very convenient for me so I won't have to spend as much money on new filters. Thank you so much!

Each water change I just squeeze put any gunk from my foam sponge/carbon packet and then put it back into my filter. I swoosh it around in the tank water, never use fresh water as itll kill the bacteria you've built up.

I also added biomedia ceramic balls from Fuval hopefully those help

That's an easy way to do it, I'll keep that in mind, thank you! Right, I'll definitely use the tank water. And I've heard many positive things about Fuval, I'll check them out. I appreciate your reply very much.

 

Amazon has some good filter floss and sponge and bio rings. They have everything lollll. I use fluval sponge as a course mechanical. 50 micron as a polisher. And then top with tons of biorings. It costs me 20 ish to modify 4 hob. And they will last forever. Compared to the crappy cartridge they sell.

 

Amazon has some good filter floss and sponge and bio rings. They have everything lollll. I use fluval sponge as a course mechanical. 50 micron as a polisher. And then top with tons of biorings. It costs me 20 ish to modify 4 hob. And they will last forever. Compared to the crappy cartridge they sell.

Sounds good, thank you so much for the advice! I'll definitely consider that.

 

An important thing to remember when cleaning the sponges is that the bacteria breathes water. You can't leave them out in the air for long, let alone dry them, or you'll lose the cycle. I personally have a bucket put aside just for cleaning my filters and their sponges in tank water. I have a long tube brush from a pet store meant for cleaning pipes and things, it really helps if any gunk gets stuck on there.

 

An important thing to remember when cleaning the sponges is that the bacteria breathes water. You can't leave them out in the air for long, let alone dry them, or you'll lose the cycle. I personally have a bucket put aside just for cleaning my filters and their sponges in tank water. I have a long tube brush from a pet store meant for cleaning pipes and things, it really helps if any gunk gets stuck on there.

You're right, I honestly didn't think about that! Thank you so much. I will definitely try and get some long brushes when I can, I remember last time I tried to clean the bottom of it, I couldn't reach it. Thank you so much.

 

Hello, I purchased some plastic pot scrubbers from dollar store. Placed behind filter cartridge to hold more bac., doesn't slow the flow, cheap, easy to clean in tank water & when I do have to change out cartridge my filter stays cycled.

 

Hello, I purchased some plastic pot scrubbers from dollar store. Placed behind filter cartridge to hold more bac., doesn't slow the flow, cheap, easy to clean in tank water & when I do have to change out cartridge my filter stays cycled.

Pot scrubbers? That's interesting for sure, and a pretty cheap way of going about it, thank you for letting me know! I'll definitely keep that in mind

 

Amazon has some good filter floss and sponge and bio rings. They have everything lollll. I use fluval sponge as a course mechanical. 50 micron as a polisher. And then top with tons of biorings. It costs me 20 ish to modify 4 hob. And they will last forever. Compared to the crappy cartridge they sell.

Or......you can get polyfil from walmart and lavarock from lowes and save money. Georgelee is absolutely right about changing your filter away from those cartridges though. The cartridge thing is garbage and a waste of money.

 

Or......you can get polyfil from walmart and lavarock from lowes and save money. Georgelee is absolutely right about changing your filter away from those cartridges though. The cartridge thing is garbage and a waste of money.

Ah OK really? I'll keep that in mind, I'll look at both and just make my decision from that I suppose. So what you're basically saying is the cartridges I have in my filter now (looking at the picture) aren't as good as sponges/using something else in it? I appreciate the reply!

 

Ah OK really? I'll keep that in mind, I'll look at both and just make my decision from that I suppose. So what you're basically saying is the cartridges I have in my filter now (looking at the picture) aren't as good as sponges/using something else in it? I appreciate the reply!

The cartridges are filter floss and carbon. Carbon is a chemical filter that only removes a few things and ammonia nitrate and nitrite are not on its list of capabilities

 

Ah OK really? I'll keep that in mind, I'll look at both and just make my decision from that I suppose. So what you're basically saying is the cartridges I have in my filter now (looking at the picture) aren't as good as sponges/using something else in it? I appreciate the reply!

I have 3 tanks.

5.5 gallon TopFin (petsmart brand)
10 gallon TopFin

Both use the same small TopFin 10 filter. I can fit 2 carbon packets, a sponge or two, a water polish pad, and some ceramic fuval media in there. These are tiny filters and they can still be customized however you wish. I use carbon and other biomedia as well. Never toss the carbon, bacteria still forma on the outside of the packet even tho the carbon itself may be used up inside

I have a marineland 150 on my 20 gallon and same thing, a mix of different biomedia

 

The cartridges are filter floss and carbon. Carbon is a chemical filter that only removes a few things and ammonia nitrate and nitrite are not on its list of capabilities

Ohh OK I see, that makes sense. Thank you so much for explaining, you've been so helpful.

I have 3 tanks.

5.5 gallon TopFin (petsmart brand)
10 gallon TopFin

Both use the same small TopFin 10 filter. I can fit 2 carbon packets, a sponge or two, a water polish pad, and some ceramic fuval media in there. These are tiny filters and they can still be customized however you wish. I use carbon and other biomedia as well. Never toss the carbon, bacteria still forma on the outside of the packet even tho the carbon itself may be used up inside

I have a marineland 150 on my 20 gallon and same thing, a mix of different biomedia

Neat, that's pretty cool. Thank you so much for your advice! I really appreciate it.

 

Carbon is only needed when you're medicating a tank and nothing more. Carbon is a waste and shouldn't even be used in an aquarium. I have bags of it saved just incase I need to create a hospital tank. In place of the carbon, use Seachem Purigen instead. Lasts longer and is rechargable.

 

Carbon is only needed when you're medicating a tank and nothing more. Carbon is a waste and shouldn't even be used in an aquarium. I have bags of it saved just incase I need to create a hospital tank. In place of the carbon, use Seachem Purigen instead. Lasts longer and is rechargable.

Oh ok interesting, I didn't know that. Yup, my tank currently doesn't need any medicating. Thank you so much for the help, I really appreciate it!

 

Carbon pores with time will be all used up. And from the on, it’s a piece of . The amount of biological filtration for a cartridge is literally that thin filter floss around the cartridge. Yea it is not that good.

 

Carbon pores with time will be all used up. And from the on, it’s a piece of . The amount of biological filtration for a cartridge is literally that thin filter floss around the cartridge. Yea it is not that good.

Ohhh seriously? Ah OK I'll remember that, thank you so much! I'll see what I can do with the filter.

 

Ah OK really? I'll keep that in mind, I'll look at both and just make my decision from that I suppose. So what you're basically saying is the cartridges I have in my filter now (looking at the picture) aren't as good as sponges/using something else in it? I appreciate the reply!

Check out this video on the YouTube channel explaining why hot rodding a filter is better than using cartridges and how to do so:

 

Check out this video explaining why hot rodding a filter is better than using cartridges and how to do so:

Thank you so much for this!! I'll definitely get to watching it, it seems very helpful. I appreciate all your help.

 

Cory actually goes in depth explaining how and why hot rodding works better. He is in the aquarium industry and he is recommending ditching cartridges.

 

Cory actually goes in depth explaining how and why hot rodding works better. He is in the aquarium industry and he is recommending ditching cartridges.

Oh seriously?? Sounds good, after all this feedback from yall, I'll definitely try and change them!

 

I have the same filter as you in a 29 but I also run a double sponge filter with an air pump.

What I like about your filter is every water change I clean one cartridge so they all get cleaned monthly but I don’t disturb the cycle by only doing 1/4 at a time. I like that it has 4 cartridges. I do clean the sponge over the intake every water change.

I also have the 10 model (2 cartridges) in a couple of tanks, also with air driven sponge filters.

They sell 3 different cartridges for that filter, 2 without carbon. I bought a dozen for less than $10 on Amazon.

I’ve actually changed a couple of cartridges in that filter but only 1 a month.

The advice to modify and use other media is a good idea but for simplicity, you can keep what you have.

 

I have the same filter as you in a 29 but I also run a double sponge filter with an air pump.

What I like about your filter is every water change I clean one cartridge so they all get cleaned monthly but I don’t disturb the cycle by only doing 1/4 at a time. I like that it has 4 cartridges. I do clean the sponge over the intake every water change.

I also have the 10 model (2 cartridges) in a couple of tanks, also with air driven sponge filters.

They sell 3 different cartridges for that filter, 2 without carbon. I bought a dozen for less than $10 on Amazon.

I’ve actually changed a couple of cartridges in that filter but only 1 a month.

The advice to modify and use other media is a good idea but for simplicity, you can keep what you have.

Or for super simplicity an zero money spent after you do it you can just follow everyones advice to ditch the cartriges

 

I have the same filter as you in a 29 but I also run a double sponge filter with an air pump.

What I like about your filter is every water change I clean one cartridge so they all get cleaned monthly but I don’t disturb the cycle by only doing 1/4 at a time. I like that it has 4 cartridges. I do clean the sponge over the intake every water change.

I also have the 10 model (2 cartridges) in a couple of tanks, also with air driven sponge filters.

They sell 3 different cartridges for that filter, 2 without carbon. I bought a dozen for less than $10 on Amazon.

I’ve actually changed a couple of cartridges in that filter but only 1 a month.

The advice to modify and use other media is a good idea but for simplicity, you can keep what you have.

Ah OK, that's very helpful! I didn't think of that, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And it's a great filter, very quiet and it works perfect for a 20 gallon. Oh and everyone else gave great advice of course with using other media, but I suppose just to save my time and money I'll stick with this but hopefully at some point I can modify it. Thank you so much to everyone, I appreciate everyone here!

 

Ah OK, that's very helpful! I didn't think of that, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And it's a great filter, very quiet and it works perfect for a 20 gallon. Oh and everyone else gave great advice of course with using other media, but I suppose just to save my time and money I'll stick with this but hopefully at some point I can modify it. Thank you so much to everyone, I appreciate everyone here!

You stick with that you won't save money.

 

You stick with that you won't save money.

Ah OK, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!