How Often Clean Canister Filter

Canister filters are one of the most avant-garde types of aquarium filtration. They hold a lot of filter media and pump a large volume of water.

They can be used on any freshwater or marine aquarium.

A canister filter can really improve h2o quality and make the tank crystal clear. But no matter how advanced your filter is, information technology won't work properly if information technology isn't properly maintained.

Here's what you lot need to practice to keep your canister filter working at peak efficiency.

How aquarium canister filters piece of work

While canister filter designs vary, they all work on the same basic filtration principles.

The canister is loaded with one or more kinds of filter media. The media, like activated carbon, may be used in a mesh pouch or placed in one of several media trays that stack inside the canister.

Several types of media are frequently used inside the canister. The canister hat clamps onto the canister, making information technology air and h2o-tight.

The filter'southward water pump circulates water from the aquarium through the filter media and back to the aquarium.

Filter media and canister filters

At that place is a variety of filter media suitable for canister filters.

About filters come with foam pads designed to capture pieces of droppings like solid fish waste product, uneaten food, and other particles. Activated carbon removes substances that discolor the water and cause odors.

Biological filter media are designed to provide a surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on.

These leaner eliminate harmful ammonia and nitrite, which are produced when fish waste is cleaved down by biological processes.

Yous can likewise use specialty media similar phosphate removers. Some reef aquarists apply canister filters to hold nitrate removers, granular ferric oxide (GFO), and other specialty filter media.

Why do canister filters need to be cleaned often?

Aquarium water, even when it looks clear, contains a lot of tiny debris. Things like algae cells, bacteria, pieces of fish slime, and other natural materials are always in the water.

Solid fish waste also floats around as it disintegrates into smaller pieces. Equally fish nibble flakes and pellet food, the crumbs are released into the water.

All of these particles get captured within the canister filter. As a result, sponge filters eventually become clogged.

The same matter happens with activated carbon and other adsorptive filter media. Debris gets defenseless between the media granules, slowing down the period rate.

These organics also glaze the adsorptive surface of the media, reducing their ability to remove colors, odors, phosphate, and other substances.

The loftier menstruum rates of canister filter cause a lot of solid debris to be removed by the filter. This will cause the filter to clog in a relatively short time.

What happens when a canister filter isn't cleaned?

When you first set up your canister filter, it will pump a lot of h2o. The aquarium water will be crystal clear for several weeks.

Just as time goes on, the filter will clog. You'll notice a decline in its performance. Much less h2o volition flow through the canister filter.

The aquarium water won't await as clear, and you may even detect an odor. The filter may even stop pumping water.

All of these things happen when a canister filter is plugged up with dirt. The solution is a thorough cleaning.

How to make clean a canister filter

Here are the basic steps to cleaning your canister filter.

It doesn't matter what filter brand you have or if it is on a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Adapt these steps to your own model of canister filter:

Disconnect the power string.
Your filter probably has a quick-disconnect valve making it piece of cake to remove the hoses from the canister. Dissever the hoses from the canister.
Carry the canister to the kitchen sink. It volition be heavy considering information technology is filled with water.
Remove the lid and pour the dirty water down the drain.
Discard old activated carbon and other granular filter media.
If the sponges are quondam and breakable, supervene upon them. Yous may be able to squeeze the clay out under running water.
Biological filter media can be rinsed in a container of aquarium water. Don't utilize hot tap water considering it can impairment the bacteria living on the surface of the media.
Wipe clay from the media baskets. Yous can apply an old toothbrush to scrub away clay.
Thoroughly clean the inside of the canister and rinse abroad slime and debris.
Inspect the O-ring on the chapeau. It should be smoothen and tightly held on the hat. If information technology is loose, supplant information technology to foreclose leaks.
Cleaning the impeller.

The only moving office in the filter is the magnet and impeller. Over fourth dimension it will become coated with slime, reducing its ability to pump water.

Sometimes a snail vanquish or piece of stringy saltwater algae volition clog upwardly the impeller. These steps will assistance you to solve the issue:

Remove the impeller cover to access the impeller. The cover volition be on the underside of the canister lid.
Advisedly pull the impeller out of its chamber. Observe that the impeller spins on a shaft. There are safe bushings on each end of the shaft. Do non lose them!
If your canister filter came with a tiny cleaning brush, use it to scrub the magnet, impeller, and impeller chamber.
Flush away the debris and reassemble the impeller and cover.

Can soap exist used to make clean a canister filter?

Dish detergent is an platonic sop for cleaning your aquarium filter. Information technology volition loosen slime and debris and make cleaning the filter easier.

When you're done scrubbing the filter, requite information technology a thorough rinsing with tap water. The detergent will wash abroad, just like it does with dishes.

Adding fresh filter media

Supervene upon the old filter media with new sponge pads, activated carbon, and other specialty media.

You can rinse dusty media by placing information technology within a media basket and gently rinsing it in the sink.

Many aquarists wonder what the right guild is when adding different filter media to a canister filter. Here'due south how to exercise it:

Place particulate filters, like sponges and filter pads, into the beginning handbasket or layer. The idea is to capture droppings before information technology tin clog the other filter media.
Place adsorption media, similar activated carbon and ammonia remover into the canister adjacent. Your filter may have several baskets for granular media.
The final stage is the biological filter media if y'all use it. Some aquarists utilize the infinite for more than media like GFO for reef tanks.

Tips for a leak-free canister filter

While you're cleaning and assembling your canister filter, be certain to check the hoses and fittings.

Flexible tubing tin become breakable over time. Replace the hoses if they are too strong.

Hand-tighten pinch fittings are used to clamp the hoses to the quick-disconnect valve. Loose fittings tin can leak!

How often should I make clean my canister filter?

In most cases, servicing your filter once a month will keep it working properly.

If you have big fish that produce a lot of solid waste matter, you'll probably need to clean the filter every iii weeks.

Final Thoughts

Every aquarist wants a clean, healthy aquarium. Canister filters are ideal for filtering freshwater tanks and reef aquariums containing corals and other invertebrates.

The best way to continue your canister filter working efficiently and purifying the aquarium water is through regular cleaning and maintenance.

Many aquarists take a monthly maintenance schedule for water changes, algae scraping, and filter cleaning.

Try it, and you lot'll meet what a divergence it can make.