Filter problem

[Tener ds]

Hi all, been watchin my filter today and noticed that there where air bubbles coming out off the outlet.this has only just started cos it didn't do this yesterday.Turns out the 2 sponges that hold all the brown
Muck where clogged up and the pump couldn't
Pull water through properly.The sponges come before the 2 champerswhere the BB live.
So i removed the sponges and rinsed
Them in old tank water and reterned to the filter.
I'm just checking I've done the right thing,
Have I done the right thing or stuffed up my filter?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

As you used old tank water you're fine. You should rinse them through with tank water periodically anyway.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
The danger is that by cleaning both sponges simultaneously you will have lost most of your nitrifying bacteria. The very gungy nature of the sponges means you need to up filter maintenance, if they got like that fairly quickly? you need some more biological filtration.

In the mean time don't feed the fish for a couple of days, and keep up your aeration and water changes and hopefully things should be fine. Start cleaning the filter sponges one at a time, then you won't have the same problem.

Also have a look at this article http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829 it should tell you what you need to know about biological filtration and filters.

cheers Darrel

 

[Tener ds]

i did clean them in old tank water,might do 1 sponge per week when i do a 30% water change.theres also 2 chambers after the sponges for the nitrifying bacteria to live,the manual
(which ive just found) does say to clean the sponges every 2-3 weeks in old tank water.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all

i did clean them in old tank water,might do 1 sponge per week when i do a 30% water change.theres also 2 chambers after the sponges for the nitrifying bacteria to live,the manual
(which ive just found) does say to clean the sponges every 2-3 weeks in old tank water.

Lovely job, things should be fine. I'd put some ceramic noodles or sintered glass rings in the other chambers (everybody has there own favourite media but ceramic rings are good and cheap).

I'd have a look a the sponges every week, if they look really clogged after a week I'd clean them. I might also look to putting a coarser sponge in if yours are very fine? I just buy a block or sheet ppi10 sponge ("koi" places sell them) and cut the sponges to size, it is a much cheaper option.

cheers Darrel

 

[Tener ds]

Hi all

Lovely job, things should be fine. I'd put some ceramic noodles or sintered glass rings in the other chambers (everybody has there own favourite media but ceramic rings are good and cheap).

I'd have a look a the sponges every week, if they look really clogged after a week I'd clean them. I might also look to putting a coarser sponge in if yours are very fine? I just buy a block or sheet ppi10 sponge ("koi" places sell them) and cut the sponges to size, it is a much cheaper option.

cheers Darrel

the filter has a:
heater,next to it (1)
fine sponge then corse one,fine on top,then (2)
ceramic rings,then (3)
plastic balls with slits in,then (4)
pump with corse sponge on top. (5)
5 chambers
did try to find a internal pic off one but no luck.

 

[RobHarrison]

I dont have sponges in my externals well apart from the FX5 but the standard canistor filters i just fill all the spaces compleately with ceramic rings, ceramic rock and use that for the bio load on the tank and you can leave it running for ages and ages and i also keep a internal filter in all my tanks with sponges in them these are just so much easyer to take out and clean on a regular basis than dismantling canistor filters and they add extra current to a tank, have you thought about adding another filter?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

.... i just fill all the spaces compleately with ceramic rings, ceramic rock and use that for the bio load on the tank and you can leave it running for ages and ages and i also keep a internal filter in all my tanks with sponges in them these are just so much easyer to take out and clean on a regular basis than dismantling canistor filters and they add extra current to a tank...

sounds like pretty good advice.

cheers Darrel

 

[Tener ds]

I dont have sponges in my externals well apart from the FX5 but the standard canistor filters i just fill all the spaces compleately with ceramic rings, ceramic rock and use that for the bio load on the tank and you can leave it running for ages and ages and i also keep a internal filter in all my tanks with sponges in them these are just so much easyer to take out and clean on a regular basis than dismantling canistor filters and they add extra current to a tank, have you thought about adding another filter?

i did think about it.i think the filter was gettin blocked cos off all the planting
and sand addin,moving the wood to add plants ect.its the first time ive touched the filter since the tank has been set up.just done a water change and checked the sponges,all ok sofar.