Cleaning 32g for the first time....

mags2313

Well actually, this will be the first time I will be cleaning my filter.. We got our 32 gal about 4 weeks ago and have done PWC 3 times but haven't cleaned anything on the filter.. I am doing a 20% WC today because I am done treating for ICH and am putting carbon back in... But please tell me, should i unplug my filter and take it right off the aquarium, clean the pump and the intake tube? I know my intake tube is gunked up but I don't have a brush yet so I was going to just replace the intake tube with a clean extra one from the box...

Uggh, sorry such a long post, I just don't know how to clean my filter!!

ollecram

well, usually you dont have to take the filter off of the back of the tank to clean it. but if you really think the tube is that dirty i guess you could replace it. the actual filter bag...hmm. some people never even change that. just every once in a while, you should clean all the gunk off it by swishing it around in some water you get from the tank while doing a water change. its fine because your going to dump the water anyway.
oh sorry. now that i read your post again, it doesnt sound like you have a HOB filter. sorry if i caused you any confusion if you dont have one.

Tyyrlym

Well first off I have to ask exactly what kind of filter is it, there are some different methods of cleaning filters depending on exactly what kind of filter it is.

In general though you do want to pull the pump impeller (the propeller looking thing in the filter that pulls water up the intake tube) and give it a scrub. Nothing aggressive but give it a good wipe down with a paper towel. No soap, no cleaners, just wipe it with a damp paper towel. You wanna do that about once a month just to get in a good habit of doing it. Cleaning the filter tube, well that's largely a matter of taste. If you wanna clean it clean it, if not its not the end of the world.

The rest of the cleaning procedure will depend on what kind of filter it is. The name on the box the filter came in would help out a lot, baring that a picture would be good.

mags2313

Oh ok Thanks for your reply. I figured it out and I just took the entire thing off and was able to snap off the peices and rinse them.. Thank you again though!!!

iamntbatman

Hmm...that could be a problem. Your filter houses a huge proportion of all of the beneficial bacteria in your tank, so giving your entire filter a thorough cleaning could result in a mini-cycle (in other words, an ammonia spike) that could be dangerous or even deadly to your fish. Keep an eye on your water parameters and do a water change if your ammonia or nitrite reach 0.25 ppm. In the future, if your filters are starting to run weak, just rinse one part at a time (i.e. one a week) during your weekly water changes. You can rinse them in the water you take out during the water change.