Canister Filter Cleaning

[polar]

Hi again all,

Not sure if this is in the correct forum but will move if mods request it.

I have what may seem a very simple and stupid question but since my flooding on the weekend i thought i would turn to you all for help.

My question is what process do you guys/gals go through to clean your canister filters?

reason i ask is on the weekend i turned off all flow, opened up the filter top and of course was treated to colourful water flowing out all over the floor hehe. Now the in and out taps were sealed to off position but yeah i guess i should have thought about it a bit more before removing the top.

So what process do you guys go through or should i just be prepared for flooding every month?


cheers
Dave

[wombat1100]

Hi Dave, am i to understand that you didn't completely remove the canister filter and open the top in the sink?
I turn off my taps, disconnect the unit and put it in my laundry trough, then i siphon some water from my tank and clean the foam sponge and rinse the bio balls gently to remove any large dirt. never clean the bio balls, just rinse with water from the aquarium so as not to kill of the good bacteria, and i never spill anything more than a cupful on the floor doing it this way. hope this helps
Dazz

[GoGuppy]

Hi Dave

It may be useful to know the brand and model number of cannister filter, as they all have their own little quirks re opening up and potential for spilling water.

If you don't use filter floss or foam media in your filter (I did not use these for many years, and will probably revert to this again in the next few weeks) there is a method you can use for back flushing the filter using your tank water. This way you won't need to open up the filter at all. :biggrin: . The method is described in an earlier posting I put on the forum and involves installing a Tee-piece in the inlet line to the filter and a few additional valves. Let me know if you want more info on this.

A second suggestion is to minimise opening up the filter to say every six months or so. It is not unusual to only do a filter clean on an annual basis, but again, this is only recommended if you don't use floss. Best to extend the periods between filter cleans gradually (eg after one month, then 2 months, then 4 months than annually) sothat you get a feel for the period needed between cleans. Note this only works on an established tank that has settled down and does not throw new surprises at you all the time!!

Now, regarding the opening up of cannister filters, you are very likely to get at least a few drops (sometimes quite a few drops) of water on the floor or carpet, if thats where you open it.

I would suggest that after you have unplugged the filter and closed the inlet and outlet valves (the Eheim Prof series has a lever that automatically shuts off the water lines when they disconnect), you move it to the bath room or another area where it doesn't matter too much if you spill some water. Get a bucket you only use for aquarium water ready near the filter.

With the filter disconnected from the inlet and outlet lines, pour a little water out though the filter's inlet connection into the bucket before removing the pump head. This may or may not be necessary, depending on make and model of your specific filter. Then just open up the filter, do what needs to be done and Bob's your uncle. :rolleyes:

As you can see, nothing too sophisticated, but other forum members may have some time saving or otherwise useful suggestions in this regard. :wink:

All the best for the New Year.

Cheers

[polar]

hi guys,

thanks both for your replys.

"am i to understand that you didn't completely remove the canister filter and open the top in the sink?"

I did remove the filter into a large storage bucket that i use for my water changes, only issue is this, I turned the taps off and then removed the tubes from the inlet and outlet taps, with the filter being below the tank all the water in the tubes came flying out (good move on my part) but because the tank ( 4ft 210 litre) is so close to the wall i could not move the tubes around so it just all flowed out.


"It may be useful to know the brand and model number of cannister filter, as they all have their own little quirks re opening up and potential for spilling water."

Its an Aquaone CF 1200.

Ive got a feeling after shutting off the taps, i should have unfastened the actual tap unit from the filter as opposed to the taps BUT then the water would flow from the filter and id still have water every where....



Am i just a complete goose? Actually dont answer that, but any suggestions?



cheers

Dave

[polar]

And yes sorry Go guppy, i would like some info on the method you have described



Cheers

Dave

[wombat1100]

my hoses have 2 taps on each hose, i close off the 2 taps then they split in the middle so as not to allow water out of either end of the hose, hope that makes sense?
Dazz

[GoGuppy]

And yes sorry Go guppy, i would like some info on the method you have described
Cheers
Dave[/b]

Hi Dave

Have a look at my comments in the below posting:
http://www.thefishtank.com.au/forum/index....amp;#entry37832 (http://www.thefishtank.com.au/forum/index.php?showtopic=2862&st=0&p=37832&#entry37832)

Further down the posting is a crude sketch of the backflush system I used.

Cheers