Wash Filter

[Techboy]

should i wash my filter if so how often

 

[Oscar]

Hi TechBoy, If you mean wash the filter media in your filter..yes you should. However, only wash (rinse) it out in the water you have taken out of your tank during a water change. The foam, or sponge, in the filter can be washed many times. If you are using carbon it can be re-used only a few times. Carbon should be replaced about once a month. If you wash your filter media in fresh water it will kill all the good bacteria.

 

[e-cat]

i wash my filters about every 6 month and the media every month, remember not too wash all the media at once.

 

[TankGirl]

I clean the filter media only when it is clogged with debris, and then, as has been posted, with spent tank water. I disagree about the carbon, as I do not use it at all unless I need to remove a medication from my tank. Also, be careful not to clean out your filter at the same time that you do other significant cleaning, as this disrupts the biofilter. I try to clean my filter on days when I have not done a gravel vac for this reason, though that might be more cautious than is necessary.