Reefs.org Forums

[wings]

That's crazy - are they multiplying by themselves?

Yep.

Just caught your other thread. Pretty cool, Guy!

[Guy]

Thanks

[wings]

So my canister filter has been running since I set up this tank - how ofter are ya supposed to clean it? I haven't touched it, and the tank looks great!

[Gman0526]

At least once a month with tank water is a good time frame, depending on the tank's bio load. Good time to do a water change too and use that water to rinse the pads.

[wings]

At least once a month with tank water is a good time frame, depending on the tank's bio load. Good time to do a water change too and use that water to rinse the pads.

Once a month? Really? I haven't done it for 5. I used a flashlight to check it out - it doesn't look that bad either.

[Gman0526]

That's ideally, but of course it's going to vary from tank to tank. I mean it's not that hard to do.. is it?

[wings]

That's ideally, but of course it's going to vary from tank to tank. I mean it's not that hard to do.. is it?

Na, I don't think so. Just wanted to know what other people do with canisters. Thanks!

[wings]

Well, I just did a canister cleaning - actually it wasn't that bad at all! It was also very easy to do - took about 30 minutes. I do vacuum the gravel every two weeks though. That might have something to do with it.

[PSLive]

It also depends on the type of canister you are using and what you have inside of it. Here on our live planted tank, the Fluval canisters have pads in them (or a pleated circular cartridge in the case of the Fluval G series) and the pads tend to collect a lot of debris. The regular Fluvals get cleaned out about once every month and a half, but the pleated cartridge in the G series filter gets cleaned out more often because it is a finer micron count. On the up side, the Fluval G is super easy to maintain and the display on it tells me when my water flow is getting low.

[wings]

Good to know, John. Thanks. Yeah, my "wuss" tank has no live plants, so it's mainly fish food (very little) flakes, and some fish poop. That's about it. It's also an Ehim rated for a 120 gallon too.. so I guess that helps a bit too.

The tank today(Monday), btw, is crystal clear too, after a nice water change on Saturday.

[_Andy]

How's the tank doing Wings?

[wings]

How's the tank doing Wings?

Really nice, actually. I guess I should post some pics. I got a radioactive red lobster to top it off. Pretty cool!

[_Andy]

That's great.

Yeah post some pics.

[wings]

That's great.

Yeah post some pics.

Here's a good one!

[wings]

[_Andy]

Those are great. Does that pretty little crawdad bother the fish?

[wings]

Those are great. Does that pretty little crawdad bother the fish?

Yeah, I think so - those claws are for real. LOL But the tank is large enough that so far nothing really too bad has happened. I think I lost a catfish to him, but I can't prove it.

[wings]

Latest "Bisque" picture after he shed.

[wings]

Just a "tank" update - For those in the FW world, and those in the SWFO world, some of my artificial plants were becoming algae ridden to the point where it wasn't really nice to look at, so I did this trick:

After vacuuming the gravel around the plant, I pulled them out of the water, and put them in a mini bucket of regular BLEACH- NO scent - and water for about 10 minutes. I washed them off, and poured declorinator back into the bucket and let it sit. I then air dried them. They came out like new!

It's a great way to spruce up a tank! I only did a few of the worse offenders...next week, I'll do a few more to stagger the "cleanliness". Heh.

[jds]

That's great.

Yeah post some pics.

Here's a good one!

that is sweet!!!

if you don't mind me asking were did you get it?