cleanning AC filter

[bluefishr88]

how often should you clean filter .

jim

[Mr. Limpet]

Originally Posted by bluefishr88

how often should you clean filter .

jim

Whenever it's dirty is my rule. I just watch the flow and if it slows, I rinse in tank water from a PWC. Don't use tap water, it'll kill the bacteria.

[Hubert90]

And also if u find that u have a high nitrate and it doesn't seem to be goin down through pwc. Change ur filter maybe something rotting in there.

[bluefishr88]

thanks , do i have to run carbon , can i run sponge and bio things would that be ok .

jim

[Mr. Limpet]

Originally Posted by bluefishr88

thanks , do i have to run carbon , can i run sponge and bio things would that be ok .

jim

You don't need to run carbon, I only use it when I'm removing meds. I put a small wad of poly-fil between the sponge and biomedia, to catch the fine gunk the sponge can't get. Works great for me .

[halfcent]

I am curious, what does bio-media do that a sponge does not do? I use AquaClear HOB filters with two sponges only in them. When it is time to clean them I take the one on the bottom rinse it in tank water and put it on top. Never had a problem, never used bio-media or carbon and my water is great.

[Hubert90]

Originally Posted by halfcent

I am curious, what does bio-media do that a sponge does not do? I use AquaClear HOB filters with two sponges only in them. When it is time to clean them I take the one on the bottom rinse it in tank water and put it on top. Never had a problem, never used bio-media or carbon and my water is great.

Bio media is for biological filtration. Where ur sponges are mechanical filtration but it can house beneficial bacteria but not as much as bio-media

[BillD]

For many years, prior to the renaming, AC filters had only the sponge insert for bio media, and they worked very well.

[halfcent]

I would think that a sponge has far more surface area for growing the bacteria then bio-media. It is the area throughout the sponge, not just the outside that is the medium for growing the good stuff. At least that was the way I thought it worked. lol

[rich311k]

The biomedia is porous there by creating a load of surface area. I rinse my sponges out every 4-6 weeks. I do not think I have bought a sponge for an AC in years.