filter maintance questions.

[treverchaos]

First off thanks to everyone for the great advice. Having put the used filter media in my filters help both my tanks cycle in roughly 2 weeks. Water levels seem good and my fish are doing well. I added 2 more female rams to my tank for a total of 5 now, along with 2 mystery snails. All have adapted well.

47 gallon.
Water parameters are: ph - 7.2 - 7.3 range
temp - 82 Fahrenheit
ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate - just trace amounts
(in between 0 and the first color on chart.)
kh - around 70ppm.
(took 4 drops to change color.)

My question now is in regards to cleaning the filter. It is an aquaclear 70 box type filter with sponge, carbon, and bio-max media. The instructions say to replace carbon monthly, sponge bi-monthly, and bio-max every 3 months. I've read however that except for carbon that the other 2 should never be replace and only rinsed off in water removed during water changes. There is some build up of algae and I probably need to clean the inside and propeller. There is also a second filter, an aquaclear 50 on it cycling currently. I do not want to destroy the bio filter. Advice is appreciated.

The 10 gallon just has a sponge filter and is stocked with 3 rainbow shark and a spotted pim. all under 2 inch. Its a temporary home. I'm setting up a 30 gallon long. (filter cycling on 47 gal tank for last 2 weeks.) soon and making the 10 gallon a quarantine tank for new arrivals. water conditions are the same. temp is 77.

All the fish appear to be happy and healthy.

 

[mfdrookie516]

ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate - just trace amounts
(in between 0 and the first color on chart.)

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0... always

As to the answer to your question, all you need to do is when you do a pwc, put the sponges and ceramic rings in the bucket of water you remove from the tank. I squeeze the sponges several times to get all the gunk out of them, then just swish the ceramic media around until it looks clean... no need for carbon, just a waste of money unless you have a bad smell or are trying to remove meds. I run a sponge on the bottom, ceramic in the middle, and sponge on top of both my AC's.. I do this weekly during my pwc's

 

[treverchaos]

I said trace amounts because the colors don't quite match the chart colors, but the tests do not appear to change colors unlike a couple weeks ago when i was getting dark colors on all the tests.
thanks for the advice. 2 of the local lfs said similar things.
Do you take the whole thing apart or just remove the inserts weekly?

 

[mfdrookie516]

once a month (give or take a week or two) i take the filter completely apart and clean the impeller and intake tube with a brush.

 

[treverchaos]

Cool. helpful info. Thanks again.