Cleaning a filter?

[popothemailman]

I was wondering if it is ok to clean my wet dry filter, im pretty sure i shouldnt touch the bioballs but is it ok to clean the top pad, and the 3 pads that are rolled up below it, the tubes that also bring in water also have a lot of algea in side should i clean those too?

my filter is a Mighty Max wet dry filter

Your advice would be much appreciated

 

[Atari]

As long as you use tank water (or aged prepared SW), you can clean anything you like, including the bioballs.

 

[BBReef]

u'll want to clean/replace the pads in there every so often. if you dont, you might as well not have them in there, as everything trapped will just decay on the pad.

 

[ogden10]

When I do my water changes I take the filters out and rinse them in the water I have taken out and inspect them after. If they are to damaged I replace them with new ones. I end up replacing them every 2 to 3 months. I always think is cool when I take the pads out to see all the pods living on them. I take them off and drop them back in the tank (although they never make it to the bottom ) Also the return lines do get alot of algae in them, I find that the day before I am going to change the water, I give them a squeeze and the algae releases, then I filter it out after it settles the next day with my water change.

HTH