Sponge filters (biological) should be cleaned every two weeks. Vacuum the gravel bed of an underground gravel filter every two weeks, unless it is a reverse flow with a pre-filter, in which case monthly maintenance should be sufficient. The feed filters installed in the tank should be checked every two to three weeks. Remove the filter from the aquarium and place it in a bucket.
Remove the filter to gain access to the medium and the impeller. Clean the filter material by shaking it well and squeezing it out with some old water from the tank. Use a small brush, sponge, or some filter thread to clean the impeller, impeller housing, and filter housing. For cleaning entrances and exits.
Remove the magnetic impeller and clean all algae, which can be rinsed with tap water. Reassemble it and clean any other algae from the pump. Reinstall the filter and replace it in the tank. Yes, it's completely safe to clean your aquarium filter, if you do it the right way.
Filters are the center of the beneficial bacteria that keep the aquarium healthy, so cleaning them the wrong way can eliminate these bacteria and cause more harm than good. Remove the filter medium and rinse it with old aquarium water or water without chlorine to remove accumulated debris. Thick sponge pads are the dirtiest and can be wrung out vigorously to clean them as much as possible. Biological media contain beneficial bacteria and should be gently shaken (not rubbed) in water.
Chemical filtration should be completely replaced when it runs out (unless you use Purigen, which can be cleaned with dilute bleach). The frequency of filter maintenance depends on many factors, such as the size of the filter, the amount of medium and the amount of food supplied to the aquarium. As a general rule, we recommend setting up a calendar reminder to clean the filter every 1 to 3 months. External filters generally require less maintenance than internal filters, since they are usually larger and can therefore last longer without requiring maintenance.
Biological filtration (a stage of aquarium filtration) is the process in which beneficial bacteria break down harmful chemicals and toxins into substances that are less harmful to fish. If you have a large filter, a large tank and few fish, you won't need to clean it as often as if you had a large filter, a large tank and lots of big, messy fish, for example. The filter is the heart of the fish tank, so it must be cleaned regularly to keep the fish happy and healthy. Aquariums with larger fish or with a large number of fish should be cleaned more often, while large aquariums with some tidy fish, such as tetras, should be cleaned less frequently.
