How Often Should You Clean A Canister Filter For Reef Tank

Pamela

How do you folks go most cleaning your filters, or rather, how thoroughly do you clean them? In the past, I've e'er had hang-on-the-dorsum filters, and I periodically take them off, pull out everything, and rinse the brown sludge out of the entire works and so put it all dorsum together. Now my sweetness husband has congenital me a canister filter for my FW tank and is building another for my new SW tank. How often exercise I demand to pull that whole thing apart and rinse it all downwardly? Is there anything adept that's building upwards inside that I really shouldn't rinse away? What are these "pods" I go along reading about? Are they some kind of small critters that my fish and shrimp become to eat?

ndz98

How do y'all folks go about cleaning your filters, or rather, how thoroughly do y'all make clean them? In the by, I've e'er had hang-on-the-back filters, and I periodically take them off, pull out everything, and rinse the brown sludge out of the entire works and then put it all back together. At present my sweet husband has built me a canister filter for my FW tank and is building another for my new SW tank. How often do I need to pull that whole matter apart and rinse it all down? Is there anything good that'due south edifice up inside that I really shouldn't rinse away? What are these "pods" I proceed reading well-nigh? Are they some kind of small critters that my fish and shrimp get to eat?

Pods are skillful for your tank. Fish tin can eat them but pods become rid of a lot of uneaten food and if I'g not mistaken, algae. I've heard of most people say vinegar does a proficient job at cleaning tank equipment.

JPergamo

If you going to use a canister filter and non a sump, you need to clean it often to forestall whatsoever build upward of detritus in information technology. Rinsing will not cause any harm to beneficial bacteria on the media in the canister. Canister filters can be a flake of a Hotspot for unwanted nutrients that pb to algae problems, and are not overly popular in saltwater aquariums for that reason. I'm certain it can exist done and be a benifit, but it needs vigorous maintenance.

Jakepen

If yous going to apply a canister filter and non a sump, you demand to clean it often to prevent any build upwards of detritus in it. Rinsing will not cause any harm to beneficial bacteria on the media in the canister. Canister filters tin can be a fleck of a Hotspot for unwanted nutrients that lead to algae problems, and are not overly popular in saltwater aquariums for that reason. I'1000 certain it can exist done and be a benifit, just it needs vigorous maintenance.

Wouldn't it be best to rinse it in water taken from the tank? Or at to the lowest degree some RODI. I've read earlier that the chlorine in tap water will kill the bacteria.

JPergamo

Wouldn't it be best to rinse it in h2o taken from the tank? Or at least some RODI. I've read before that the chlorine in tap water volition kill the bacteria.

Information technology may kill some, but the nitrifying leaner in our systems are very hardy and it'south unlikely washing media in tap water would kill off a significant amount. If you are worried nigh that and then aye you lot could always use RO h2o for it.... simply that seems like a waste product to me IMO.

Jakepen

It may kill some, but the nitrifying bacteria in our systems are very hardy and it's unlikely washing media in tap water would kill off a significant amount. If you are worried well-nigh that then yeah y'all could always use RO water for information technology.... but that seems like a waste product to me IMO.

What I've done is when changing h2o, will empty into a 5 gallon saucepan. Than rinse out my media in that bucket, before dumping the h2o. Do you recollect there would be phosphates or nitrates suspended in that water, and I could mayhap be soaking them up in my sponge, than returning them to my tank?

MermaidTail

Awesome question. I practice this too, Jakepen!

Pamela

If you lot going to employ a canister filter and not a sump, you demand to make clean it oftentimes to forestall any build up of detritus in information technology. Rinsing will not crusade any harm to beneficial bacteria on the media in the canister. Canister filters can exist a bit of a Hotspot for unwanted nutrients that pb to algae problems, and are not overly pop in saltwater aquariums for that reason. I'm sure it can be done and be a benifit, only it needs vigorous maintenance.

Practiced to know. Thanks! Truth is, I really have no thought what a sump is. I thought information technology was something that pushes a menses through the water - that its entire purpose was to create movement of h2o.

I'chiliad afraid I might exist applying too much of my freshwater know-how to my new saltwater setup.

JPergamo

Good to know. Thanks! Truth is, I really accept no idea what a sump is. I thought it was something that pushes a flow through the water - that its entire purpose was to create motion of water.
I'm afraid I might exist applying too much of my freshwater know-how to my new saltwater setup.

All-time advice I requite to anyone entering saltwater is to read and read and Google and youtube and read some more. Larn everything you lot tin can long before you lot utilise it to your own system.

Pamela

Yes, I am reading. There is so much more to all of this than I'd imagined! A sump - good grief! I idea that was something people put in their basements in instance of flooding. A refugeum to grow teeny water critters for my fishes and invertebrates to eat? I take no thought where I'd fifty-fifty put it. The special lighting requirements before I can even think virtually getting my kickoff coral? Oh boy! It'south all pretty overwhelming, really.

JPergamo

It is a lot to accept in, but you never stop learning no matter how long you are in the hobby. As far every bit the sump and fuge get, start looking at designs from pre made sump/fuge systems. Follow how the water flows through information technology in the dissimilar chambers and what they are for. Then decide if you want a pre made sump or begin a diy project in making ane.

PatW

Nigh people in the salt water side favor skimmers. If you have been to the sea shore and there is an offshore cakewalk, you oft encounter bounding main foam. It is a collection of bubbles.

A skimmer is a tube with a chimera maker on the lesser. The complex organic molecules in the water adhere to the bubbles and reinforce them. These stiffened bubbles are carried up and over the tiptop of the skimmer and fall into the collection cup.

It has ii advantages over a canister filter. Outset a canister filter relies on the concrete filter. It only removes particles. Skimmers get bio molecules. Secondly, a canister filter has to be cleaned often or the particles will interruption downward and release phosphates and nitrates dorsum into the tank. All the gunk from the skimmer collects in the loving cup where it is removed from the system.

Most people go on skimmers in their sump. If you want to remove particulates, you can run filter socks. Sumps are pop considering you can put virtually all of the unsightly equipment downwardly there: filter socks, skimmers, reactors, heaters, macro algae, rock rubble and even miniature mangrove forests.

Screwgunner

Ha ha ha ha welcome to the dark side . I have been reefing for 30 + years and yet learning. Beginning off alkalinity will exist your offset good lesson. And so ph . Magnesium, calcium, phosphates, and trace elements. May the forcefulness be with you lot. In the beginning ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. The bike recall one word for saltwater( patients) may Allah exist with you.