How to Clean an Aquarium Filter : Aquarium Filter Cleaning Instructions. Chemical, Biological Filters and How to Keep Your Aquarium and Filter Clean Longer.
Filters help purify the water in the tank by eliminating all the waste products of the metabolism of fish and plants. Unfortunately, filters cannot do all the work by themselves, so our periodic intervention is necessary.
When and how to clean the aquarium filter? There is no universal answer to the question of how often you should clean the aquarium filter .
The frequency of cleaning depends on the number of living organisms based on the volume of water. A filter that works with little water and a lot of biodiversity, will tend to get dirty very easily. If it is not possible to answer the question of frequency, is it possible to answer the question when to clean the aquarium filter ?
The aquarium filter should be cleaned at least a week after the last cleaning of the tank and/or the bottom of the aquarium. This way your fish will have had enough time to adapt to the new environment and will not have a further shock with the cleaning of the filter .
How to clean an aquarium filter? Again, there is no universal answer. Cleaning your filter depends on the type of filter you have. Some aquariums have multiple filters. To always operate in a way that is compatible with the life of your fish, be sure to consult the user manual that you received when you purchased your filter.
The manual contains case-specific information, so specific instructions for cleaning that particular filter model. For general instructions you can follow the guides below.
Cleaning mechanical filters
If you have a mechanical filter, you will find a sponge, pad, or similar material inside it. In this case, to clean the aquarium filter you will have to disconnect it and clean the pad/sponge.
- Disconnect the mechanical filter and remove it from the tank. Have a bucket where you can move the filter without wetting the floor of your house.
- You will need at least two cups of water from your aquarium. Not everyone knows that the filter media should be cleaned with aquarium water and not with tap water.
- Using a siphon, transfer two cups of aquarium water into a bowl where you will clean the sponge or pad. Wear gloves when doing this. If the sponge or pad is very dirty, do not hesitate to replace it.
- Use the residual water to thoroughly wash the solid components of the filter (tubes, plastics, etc.). At this stage you should help yourself with a brush.
- Reassemble the filter and place it back into the aquarium .
Cleaning of chemical filters and biological filters
Good news: For those wondering how to clean an aquarium filter and have a chemical filter, you won’t have to do much! With chemical filters, you’ll only need to replace those special “activated carbon rings” on a regular basis. When it seems like the filter is losing its effectiveness, replace it with new activated carbon refills.
A biological filter must be kept healthy and never cleaned so as not to alter the balance of the bacterial colonies. If it seems particularly dirty, you can clean it without disassembling it, keeping it in the aquarium and sifting aquarium water over it.
How to keep your filter clean
To ensure maximum filter efficiency, you must remember to carry out the classic aquarium maintenance work. The efficiency of the filters depends on how polluted your aquarium is and therefore on the quantity of fish you house.
Mechanical filters are the ones that require the most maintenance because they should be washed at least once a month. More frequent checks should be done in case of diseased fish or plants, algae invasions and similar events.
