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Or should I let the filter work it out? Tonight I took the spray bar off to clean the hard water deposits off. When I turned it back on, I had to prime it a few times, and because the hoses are dirty, a bunch of gunk is now floating in the tank.

My filter and hoses are not quite 1.5 years old. I do a 25% water change weekly and clean the filter monthly.

For the last few months, when I turn the filter back on, I get junk sprayed out into the water that's obviously growing in the filter return tube.

So far, I'm ignoring it. Within a few hours, it has been sucked into the filter by the intake tube. At some point, I'll probably need to change or clean the tubes, but ignoring it hasn't caused ammonia or nitrite spikes and it is cleared before long.

You should do partial water changes. The amount you do and how often depends on your measured nitrate level. We do water changes to remove nitrates.

Ammonia --> Nitrite is handled by your bio filtration. Nitrite --> Nitrate is also handled by your bio filtration. Nitrate --> Nitrogen gas (requires a lot of plants and a lot of time). Our tanks are too small to do this effectively so we just swap out a portion of the water column high in nitrates with clean fresh water.

Thanks, I just wasn't sure if I should do it when I put the spray bar back on, and displaced some whatever was in the hoses, or if I should let it settle, and let the filter get rid of it. I chose the latter, and the filter took care of it pretty quickly. I will be cleaning the hoses out, though, and doing a partial water change soon.

A related question, I don't do water changes too often where I am removing water and then replacing because the water evaporates so fast. I add up about three gallons (maybe more) a week due to evaporation. Not sure if it's because the spray bar is above the water line, and agitates the surface more, or if that's normal.

You will get less evaporation with the spray bar under the waterline. Surface agitation will increase evaporation. Theoretically, if you do more water changes, removing and replacing water, you may get a little less hard water deposits.

When water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals, heavy metals, and other impurities there were dissolved in it. When your topping off with more water your also adding in more minerals,metals. etc. If all your doing is topping off, these impurities will slowly build up concentration in your tank . The only way to remove the built up concentration is a water change.

Good information, thank you!

I clean out my hoses every two to 3 weeks and the filter every two. I am sure it doesn't need it, but I am a clean freak

Clean freak!! I have never cleaned my hoses and clean filter once a month.

I rigged up a tube cleaning brush to a bent up coat hanger and shove it in both ends.. You can't imagine all the yuck that comes out in only a couple weeks. I can't believe your's are clogged by now

That sludge is fine. It really doesn't build up bad enough to impede flow for months. Maybe a year or longer as in my case.Clean Freak!!!!

I used to clean the tubes monthly. But with 2 tanks, I just gave up

I have not cleaned the fx tubes in almost 2 years. Maybe i will next filter cleaning?

yuck..

Good thing they don't use clear tubing

I decided it was not worth the time and effort to clean the hoses that are used in normal operation. Besides, I think ribbed hoses are almost impossible to clean.

And prone to cracking. That's why I don't mess with them.