Can I Clean Both Filters On My Tank At The Same Time

Filters help clean and purify the h2o in your fish tank, but unfortunately, the filter cannot properly do its job if it's clogged with filth.

When and How to Make clean your Filter

When should you lot clean your aquarium'southward filter? Well, when it is dirty of course, but you should await at least a calendar week from the last time you cleaned the fish tank. That fashion your fish volition have had time to adjust to his new environment before another stupor to his system happens with the disruption of his h2o and routine.

The second thing to remember about cleaning your aquarium filter is that the cleaning method yous should apply depends on the type (or types) of filter that you have. This should be adequately obvious to you but by looking at your filter, but be sure to consult the possessor'due south manual to make sure there are no specific directions on cleaning for your particular model. Then look upwards your filter type below and get started.

Cleaning Mechanical Filters

If you have a mechanical filter, you will most likely have a sponge or pad that sits inside it. This is the main component of the filter that you will need to clean. Hither's how:

1. Siphon or scoop out some water

You will demand about two cups of h2o from the tank to use to clean the filter's sponge. For the benefit of your fish, you will want to utilise existing tank water, not tap water or distilled h2o. Certain the filter may not smell as clean and fresh, only your fish will exist less sensitive to the change. Utilize your siphon, plastic cup, etc., to remove as much water as you think y'all'll demand. Bleed it into a medium sized basin, like a small mixing bowl, or drain it in a bucket and transfer it to the bowl.

2. Unplug the filter

This step is pretty self-explanatory. Unplug your mechanical filter to avoid shocking yourself every bit you clean it. And then accept it off of your tank if you lot can. This will brand your life a lot easier. To salvage your floor, you lot volition want to have an pending bowl, saucepan or sink.

3. Clean the sponge or pad

Since yous've already got your bowl of water assembled, this step should exist relatively quick and painless, which is good, since you don't want your fish to be filter-less for long. Simply launder all of the gunk off of the sponge with the h2o and your easily. Squeezing the sponge to exit the gunk volition not remove all of the beneficial bacteria that is on the sponge, which is what is protecting your fish from ammonia in the water, so experience free to wash the sponge until the water moving through it runs clear. If touching aquarium water is too icky for you, either wear gloves or recruit a friend to do it for you.

*If your sponge or pad is horribly dirty, feel complimentary to supervene upon it. Just do non do this unless you feel information technology'south absolutely necessary.

4. Scrub the casing and tubes

Employ the leftover h2o in the basin to clean the other parts of the filter, or grab a little more from the tank if the water in the bowl is too dirty. You lot can scrub any hard to reach spots by using a filter cleaning brush, which you can find at well-nigh pet supply stores.

v. Put the sponge or pad dorsum

That's information technology. Now return the sponge or pad to the filter and render the filter to your fish tank. Cascade any remaining water from your cleaning project inside it, if it isn't crawling with gunk, that is, and turn the filter back on.

Cleaning Chemical Filters

If you take a chemical filter on your tank, the only cleaning it really needs is for you to swap out the carbon on a regular footing, say once a week or whenever the water seems cloudy, whichever comes get-go. Just follow steps one, two and 4 from above. Remove the carbon before you lot showtime pace ane and supersede it with the new carbon when you're done, right before reattaching the filter to the tank.

Cleaning Biological Filters

Since you lot want your biological filter to be filled with lots of delicious and tank skimming bacteria, you don't want to make clean it much. If yous do need to clean it, just give it a quick once over with water from the tank. Follow steps i, two and 4 from higher up. So put the filter back of grade.

*As a final step, make sure it is functioning properly. If it's non, cheque for clogs. Nonetheless not working? Check the owner's manual or telephone call the manufacturer.

Keeping your Aquarium Filter Clean

Aquarium filters don't actually stay clean as a rule. Their whole raison de vivre is to become the gunk and pollution out of your fish tank. Therefore they will e'er require cleaning on a regular basis. The dominion of pollex for the specific filter types is as follows:

Mechanical filters: These filters need to be cleaned the most frequently of the iii types, at least once every four weeks. Y'all will want to schedule your filter cleaning days then that they are several days removed from your weekly or biweekly regular tank cleanings.

Chemical filters: Replace the carbon when the aquarium water turns cloudy, or at to the lowest degree once every 2 months.

Biological filters: Give the filter a good cleaning out when it appears to be chock-full, malfunctioning or working very slowly.

More frequent cleanings may be needed if your fish is sick. Ask a veterinarian or aquarium shop employee for advice during these times.