Habitat - Indoor :: is there a "rule of thumb" for how often to clean a tank

[ljapa]

This is some good info. If rinsing Bio-media with tap water is bad, what is the best way to clean it?

Use either tank water you've siphoned out or treated tap water.

[L.West]

Always rinse your filter media in tank water that you have put into a bucket. This way you will avoid killing off your beneficial bacteria from the chlorine in the tap water. Just put some water from the tank into a clean bucket and squeeze out your media when it gets too dirty.

[tjurhs]

Always rinse your filter media.... and squeeze out your media when it gets too dirty.

rinse what media all three? squeeze out what media?

In my canister filter I have three "media" or at least I think that's what you're calling the black balls with slots, little white ceramic tubes, and a charcoal bag.

[Starscream]

I do Filters monthly, water changes of 40 percent bi weekly, cleanings like wipeng down the tank weekly, majorly scraping off hard water stains and build up is 6 months or so, or when i get tired of looking at it.

[steve]

rinse what media all three? squeeze out what media?

Just the bio media... set aside some tank water and leave it in there while you clean/change everything else. Some use regular water that they're using to change the tank water, just don't let it dry out or they will have to start over.

[VeipaCray]

Gold star for ljapa!

[tjurhs]

Just the bio media

Which of the three is the bio media? I'm guessing the white ceramic 1/2inch long tubes?

[ljapa]

Yep. Biomedia is the ceramic media. Called biomedia because it's a porous media that allows a ton of surface area inside for bacteria to grow, thus providing biofiltration. When you clean your filter, siphon some water into a bucket. Swish the biomedia to remove larger chunks caught up in it. Squeeze out the sponges a few times. Toss the carbon and replace it.

[Rickiew04]

Thanks everyone. Good info. I always wondered how everyone else did it.