How often to clean filters?

[WJH1748]

Hello, I have a Sealife 100gal w/d. There is a filter on top, then bio balls. Under that is a one carbon mesh bag. I have a Seallife 75 gal Pro Skimmer. It dumps on to a sponge. How often should I clean the sponge and the filter on top of the w/d filter? Do you do anything with the bio balls? I read the article on "Activated Carbon". The overflow has a sponge type filter on the tube also? Would more freq cleaning help my high Nitrate reading? 8O Tx WJH

 

[steve-s]

Would more freq cleaning help my high Nitrate reading? 8O Tx WJH

Anythings that collects/traps foods and detritus should be cleaned frequently. Depending on how quickly, it may be needed weekly, bi-monthly or monthly. You can usually tell by how much the flow through them is reduced. Never clean the bio-balls, they don't need it.

Contrary to popular belief, the items you've mentioned above do not create nitrates' you do.

Nitrates are a by product. It starts with ammonia, then nitrites to nitrates. The only way nitrates can be formed is with the over use of items that feed ammonia on a continual basis. This is primarily from overstocking, overfeeding or using foods that do not break down in the system very well. You reduce the addition or products/animals that add to the ammonia, you reduce the nitrate... period..

It's a simple biological process.

Cheers
Steve

 

[ohio reefer]

my wife was trying to help me out once and cleaned my aquarium. she cleaned everything including the bio-balls. it through my tank for a loop it killed all my fish and most of my inverts. i had to recycle the whole thing over again.

never never never clean your bio-balls

mark

 

[ellisz]

I actually saw a how to on cleaning the bioballs on a aquarium board?

Not his one of course ...