I Waited Too Long to Clean My Aquarium Filter...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- I have often shared that I don't like canister filters because they are not easy to clean. Canister filters do have excellent benefits, but as you can see in this video...the maintenance is not fun.
To see the last time I had an issue with a canister filter, watch here: • This Aquarium Filter H...
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Have you ever let an aquarium filter get this bad?
To see the last time I had an issue with a canister filter, watch here: th-cam.com/video/3w_mdmC5ATA/w-d-xo.html
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I use a pitcher under the hose connector once it's disconnected from the filter. Quickly open and close the valve and let the dirty water run into the pitcher. Then no gunk and cloudiness when I restart. I hated doing all that work and watching that crud go back into the tank.
I’ve been putting off cleaning my canister filter since I planned to do it in February. The ironic thing is that I plan to “just get it DONE” this weekend and your video came out! Thanks for the inspiration and keeping it real! Very much appreciated! I enjoy all your content. Thank you!
I've NEVER had a filter that bad. Then I've never gone a year without cleaning my FX. I've never had the outside sponges get clogged. It was a testimony to the FX brand how clean the tank still was.
Your honesty is awesome. Shows people what you are doing is not staged. 👍
Oh my goodness, I can only imagine the smell... 😂
Actually, there was no odor. I guess that’s a good thing? 😝
@@TazawaTanks I guess it sealed itself and stopped working entirely? Hard to say why there's no smell. One of the methods for me using powered filters like that (HoBs) is knowing when to change them based on that.
@@TazawaTanks means there aren't some of the really nasty bacteria in there. I was in a micro lab and many of the nasty human bacteria stink. it helps us avoid them. (E. coli smells terrible, Salmonella not as much. Clostridium species are room clearing...)
edit: I mean, I imagine at this point, it's basically amazingly well aged compost!
Thought the smell comes from the cycle not being able to break down all the different compounds. So that if the tanks cycle, and/or plants, processes all the compounds efficiently there shouldn’t be much of a smell.
I clean my canister filter based on water flow in the tank decreasing. So there’s usually a good amount of buildup in my filter as well. And fortunately I have not noticed mine having any bad odors either.
You nailed it, Timothy :). I'd also add that not all of such "guck" needs to be thoroughly cleaned when you're filter media looks like that. With a well-established filter like this one, really you could just swish the sponges and maybe squeeze them in a bucket of water (tank or tap). Just enough to get back decent flow. Lots of the "guck" is a beneficial little ecosystem.
Thanks for bringing up the Prime Time Aquatics video re: chlorine and BB. There's some really great science communication in that video and I think the community should be talking about it more.
PS- the editing on this video is great! Really enjoyed this one for the transparency and humor.
Everyone with house plants watching all that fertilizer 👁👄👁
I tried using old tank water and it grew fungus on my fiddle leaf, pine and papaya trees! 🤷🏻♂️🤔🫠
I don't think I've gone a whole year without cleaning a filter, but it's not uncommon for me to let my filter go months without cleaning. all my filters are just mechanical filters for water clarity. There is plenty of beneficial bacteria within the tank to process all the waste produced in the tank. I do bi weekly water changes. all my fish are healthy and breeding. great video Zenzo.
Ive done it plenty of times
When it was for just one turtle or a few fish.
When its not ovetstocked and you dont overfeed, and the filter is big enough you dont need to clean it that often.
I like watching videos like this; they're 'real'.
Other fish keeping videos can either have a 'clinical' or 'sanctimonious' feel to them.
I think that videos like this one reflects the vast majority of 'real life' domestic fish keepers.
I don't think it is necessary to change your filter 'on the 1st of each month' (purchasing brand new media each time) with an 80% water change regardless (I think it can potentially be a waste of time and money).
Some 'filterless' tanks still look good after several months (obviously with fish-keeper intervention).
I think that with 'filtered' tanks, the filters ARE the (primary) intervention and that Fish-keeper intervention comes in when necessary (e.g. filter efficiency drops).
Essentially, when you see a degradation in water quality / flow, then, 'it's time' (be it 1, 2 or 3+ months depending on on the set up of your tank).
Good video.
Gave me flashbacks of my bachelor days when I'd rediscover a long forgotten mystery casserole tucked back in the less explored sector of my refrigerator.
🤢🤮😆😆😆😆
First i been in the hobby 40 plus years and totally agree with prime time Aquatics about rinsing with tap water is ok I've never had a issue. Also when i clean my cannister filter before i turn it on i put one of my large nets over the out put tube so it catches all that debrie that get pushed back into the tank when you turn it on again. Just food for thought. Later Z
I greatly appreciate your transparency! I believe the hobby is far better served by your commitment to truth and reality. Thank you!
I appreciate that you show the reality of managing a large number of tanks while also having a busy life. Canister filters are great for removing and storing waste Cleaning them is a process. I can see how it would be easy to skip it for a while. Interesting video. Thanks for sharing
I have ball valve and quick connect set up on the water change outlet on my fx6. When I do water changes, I hook up my python hose, turn off the output, and drain the tank like that. In effect it is flushing the filter by running the water through it, and extends time between services. If I am doing a substrate cleaning, I hook my python syphon to the same hose, and turn the intake off, along the same lines as the fluval branded vaccum.
I truely always enjoy your honesty about what it takes in the hobby. This was great entertainment...lol. That muck was insane.
I run an Oase Biotherm 250 and a 350 on a 65 gallon heavily planted and stocked tank cleaning pre filters weekly on both. Both have all Matrix media with Chemi Pure Green and Purigen. Full filter clean every four months. I always expect to see what you saw, but everything is always relatively clean. I think Oase are the best canister filters made.
I agree. Amazing filters. I have a Biomaster and it's super quick and easy to pull out the first stage of small sponge filters and clean most of the gunk out. I do it every water change because it takes all of 5 minutes.
That some good fertilizer for your houseplants
I just got a canister filter a little less than a month ago. I cleaned it today for the first time and put some additional media in. For three weeks, I must say the water and some of the media was pretty bad. However not like what you just had, but it took a little time to get it all washed out and cleaned up. The entire process took about a half hour.
Reading through the comments someone mentioned cleaning filters once a month. Never clean filters once a month. It takes a month for a filter to biologically recover from the last cleaning. In other words it never recovers. This is my thing with canister filters especially if you only have one or two tanks. If cleaning your filter every six months is a hassle. This is the wrong hobby for you. I realize people forget and that's fine I get it. I just don't understand how it's a problem to twice a year clean a canister. I have fifteen tanks and have multiple canisters on some of them due to the load on the tank. I don't wait six months or keep track of the last time I cleaned a filter. When I do water changes I leave the canisters on till the water level drops below the outlet. When I notice the water flow is reduced I clean the filter and usually it's just the floss that needs to be cleaned. The sponge is still good to go. As far as cleaning filter material in tap water goes. It doesn't hurt at all unless you let the filter material sit in tap water for over an hour and a half. That's how long it takes for the amount of chlorine in tap water to kill the bacteria in your filter. The couple of minutes it takes to rinse all the sponge does nothing. Whether you use tap or tank water the squeezing/rinsing the sponges gets rid of more bacteria than anything. All that brown nasty stuff is bio film. Literally a film made of bacteria. If tap water had enough chlorine in it to kill the bacteria in your filter by rinsing it. It would kill all the bacteria in your gut every time you drank water out the tap. This is why there is a specific amount of chlorine in your water.
I like your advice to wait 4-6 months to clean the canister. Some people do it monthly, but it doesn’t hurt to wait as long as there is good flow. Too many people use polyfil or pads that clog up too quickly, they aren’t needed at all in a canister.
I run a separate canister from my fx6 just for polishing pads. It's lighter and easier to change that one out. lol
yes , if you want clear water then finer filtration is needed for most people . that would mean changing it more often .
@@mikesmith-wk7vy not true, biofilms created by heterotrophic bacteria remove particles smaller than poly fli is capable of.
Love the Saturday videos! Also love when you show that even the most seasoned and expert fish keepers aren’t perfect. We just do the best we can!
Better to forget to clean it than over clean the filters. When I got back into the hobby right after Christmas I was a clean freak and it hurt every fish I had/got. I really didn't know anything about the cycle ECT of a aquarium until I started watching you and aquarium co-op along with a couple others affiliated with the co-op. Thanks for making great content for us to learn from and have some entertainment.
Yep I also did the same thing not wanting to clean my fx6 after many months. When I decided to finally clean it the canister looked similar but not as bad as this.
Once I opened my FX 4 and it was full of gelatinous gunk . It'd only been set up about 8 months, so I have no idea what that weird stuff was. I'd just noticed a marked difference in outflow. BTW, I noticed that You didn't drain your FX4 before putting it in your sink - I think this may have made the job twice as difficult - that filter holds about 3 gallons of water! Also, fun video !
I don't think its bad to leave it for a year so long as there is not much reduction in flow. To me, a filter ages like wine. Just put an intake sponge so it won't get clogged as often. Though its just the polishing pad to worry about, that could actually clog pretty easy.
I do the same thing. I keep a bucket near by with primed water to put the biological filtration in so the bacteria doesn't die while I'm cleaning the mechanical filtration.
I have cleaned my filters for years and years and years in the sink with tap water and have never had a system crash.
I have a challenge for you Zenzo!
In one month. Make this video again. I think as a hobbyist I want to know what it looks like normally on that tank to understand what the timeframe is for that filter.
Second challenge.... Find a filter that alerts you in some way when flow is reduced or bypass is happening. Some use your phone, I'm sure there are other ways. The challenge being, compare that to a sponge filter keeping experience and how much does a system like that nag you. What if you ignored it and just did the cleanouts weekly or monthly. What is the true "user experience" and which method do you prefer based on those two solutions?
I love the way canister filters make your tank look but the process of cleaning them in comparison to a sponge is the biggest negative. Thanks for sharing.
Time wise, that’s not bad, if you only clean it every six months, or so. I would add it to my phone calendar and send myself a reminder. I have to that with a pill I need to take once a week.
Cool to show this , it’s a reminder for clean my Eheim3 Pro it’s been half a year since I’ve cleaned it
Ohhh. Thats a good one. I once forgot about my old reef tank protein skimmer collection cup....
I drain my Fluval 407 before starting and water my plants with it. Plants love it. Also use the water change water for my plants. I clean the filters average every couple of months, but I let the hoses go too long without a wash, and now that's a problem. I ordered a scrub bottle washer type thing for them and will clean them again when that comes in, which will be the second time in 3 YEARS. I'm a slob, poor fish, but tank looks pristine, water tests good and the fish are thriving. :)
Hey I have a canister and if you don't already get and intake sponge for your intake on the canister filter. Not only do you get extra mechanical an biological filtration but you save so much gunk from getting into your tank! Btw it's time to clean your canister@
Consider a pre-filter on that FX-6. I know where you can get them 😉🤣. It’s a game changer.
Jay Wilson once described the inside of a neglected canister, “Like a hippo took a dump in it!” 🤣🤣🤣
That being said, I’m right in the middle of adding amps and sockets. Simple air filtration would make that unnecessary and be easier to back up in the event of a power outage.
Also, I agree on the BB. Plus there’s a lot of BB in the substrate.
Thanks for sharing this.
i think you more proved why canisters are impressive than not. No other type of filtration would allow for such neglect without huge water quaility implications or pure failure.
Hamburg Matten filter (HMF) in a sump would beat it .. went almost 2 years, flow was unaffected. Anyway, still need to do water changes regardless
@@bigdreams5554 this isn't too argue but realize that you mentioned a type of filtration that could be 2 independent types of filtration in order to say its possible. The canister is still impressive.
I cleaned one of mine today first time four years ago it makes yours look clean
For me, anything over 55 gallons,a fluidized bed sump is the only way to go !
You’ve inspired me to clean my HOB filter I’ve been neglecting for a few months.
It's helpful to use the port om the bottom to let out some of that water before opening the top. Makes it way easier to clean and less spillage etc.
On my TH-cam channel I have done some canister filter cleaning that was over nine months or more between cleaning. I have two FX-6 canister, marineland canister, 407 fluval. Along with HOB filter.
Dude thanks for this transparency. That looked like my fluval 407 canisters (I have two) on a 125g for my fancy goldfish. I have to do that every 3 months they 💩 A LOT. Algae cleaners, canister cleanings and weekly 80% WC is the only way to keep my water clean. Gosh keeping is a messy yet fun hobby. Very rewarding
Appreciate the transparency…and as you stated, remember to clean your filter!
I once waited over a year to clean my fluval 304, I didn’t it was so clogged up there was literally only drops of water coming out of the filter, not gonna let that happen again, but somehow the motor didn’t burn up so she’s still pumping to this day.
I leave my fluval 407 and 406 go until the flow is barely coming out. When I open them they look a lot like your filter did. I've had my 406 for years, so long I actually can't remember, but I never cleaned the sponges with tank water always tap.
I do have the same issue with those corrugated hoses fluval use. I wish they would put out regular smooth hoses for their filters.
I just put a canister filter on a tank a month ago, and pulled the prefilter, there was hardly anything. I'm hoping to go a year or so before opening and cleaning it. As far as using chlorinated tap water,I worked in a LFS several year ago, and we would clean our sponge filters monthly in tap water that was chlorinated and never had issues. I'm lucky that I have well water and clean my sponges in tap water all the time.
I clean my fx6's annually, I have a pre-filter, never seen so dirty filter like this one in the video. Mine are totally fine, not much dirt in them at all, could run for 2 years :)
My fish room consists of ten, 75 gallon tanks. 8 of which use FX4 cans. I clean the FX4s every 6 months. It takes me about 30 minutes per can. So I spend roughly half a day every 6 months on filter cleaning. I write the "date last cleaned" on a piece of tape on each can so I know when it's time.
I'll try to remind you when I do mine. Just set up a brand new FX6 2 weeks ago, I planned on october/April schedule because I don't have a large sink like that so I will likely be doing mine outside.. need decent weather where I live to do it so those two months work
Actually seeing the gunk come out of the sponges is the most satisfying part! Can't believe you cut it out :(
Once I opened my FX 4 and it was full of gelatinous gunk . It'd only been set up about 8 months, so I have no idea what that weird stuff was. I'd just noticed a marked difference in outflow. BTW, I noticed that You didn't drain your FX4 before putting it in your sink - I think this may have made the job twice as difficult - that filter holds about 3 gallons of water! Also, fun video - its fun seeing the experts not do perfection
I find your transparency very refreshing.
Use the drain valve to do water changes and it wont get like that. I have an fx6 that I did my first cleaning after 6 months and it hardly had anything in it. I just do weekly water changes via the filter (and gravel vac) and change the top pad every month or so.
Bro that's liquid gold for gardeners. Its because your tank is chock full of cichlids lol. Not my favorite job but always good to get it done! Thanks for Videos!
Makes me glad I ditched canisters and sumps long ago. All air driven filters except a few that have hob and sponge/ ugf combo
Amazing the filter still works at that point
Write the date on a piece of masking tape the date you cleaned it and glance at it every once in awhile. I had to laugh at this because I had done the same. Mine was orange from the floating food. I was like oops. Canister filters are easy to forget about for some reason. ;-) Good video.
i clean my Acuaclear 110 every 2 weeks , my tank is overstocked though and i use filter floss that clogs up more. although now i change water weekly and my floss wasnt that dirty so i might make it 3 weeks
My friend waited to do both of his canister filters for over a year an he even said he would never do that again it was so bad an gunky. Now I got a canister filter an him an you both have now pushed me more towards doing it every 4 or 6 months. Maybe sooner cause I have alot of fancy goldfish.
Thanks for sharing as always, nice to see behind the curtain. 🙃🙃
Lol...bruh I did a fish rescue where I got the tanks and all the equipment, the guy told me the fx4 and fx6 hadn't been cleaned in about a year. You just gave me a case of Deja Vu, I absolutely feel your pain. I swore 6 months max for me, except the Fx6 where I keep my Delhizi Bichir I'm not going past 4. Great content as always, thanks for sharing and don't worry I'm so going to remind you.
I had canister filters for a year. They take too long to clean when the hoses need cleaning too. Years ago I made my own trickle filters on top of the tank. So easy to maintain. I clean sponges once a month, change the floss when it is dirty. So So easy.I clean the tubes once every 2 months. So easy
Idk why is this funny to me but i cant stop laughing when you open it
When you changed I was half expecting a hazmat suit lol wow crazy to see just how bad it can get. Very therapeutic though once it’s cleaned. Great vid!
Thanks for your honesty Zenzo, you're an inspiration to me. Cheers!
Mines been over 6 months. It happens. Don't beat yourself up!
Sometimes I actually find small live fish in my canister filter that’s on my 125 African Cichlid tank.
The fact that your FX4 was even still functioning, after being so nasty, says alot for the FX- Series.
As soon as I saw which tank it was attached to I knew it was going to be impressive! 🤣 I had mbuna and loved them, but they were some serious waste producers (don't get me started on the oscars!).
Wow man! That was overdue for sure 😆 Props to Fluval for building a battleship of a canister filter to handle all that. I run about 3 month intervals on my FX4s for my 180G display tank, however I'm leaning towards I could go 6 months with no issue. I'll shoot you a reminder in October 😎
I use Alexa to remind me..I mostly use her for my fish..meds when needed cleaning turning on heaters after cleaning..
it's been a year and my fx6 on a 75 gallon tank didn't look that bad. live plants and 40 fish over fed.
Add a tiny bit of salt to insure no columnaris if you wait too long.
It looked so satifying to see that filter reborn, all nice and clean!
This makes me feel better about mine lol. I haven’t cleaned it since October and I have the extra bio load of two turtles... will definitely try to remind you next time I clean mine
That’s the only thing with canister filters, people generally forget The last time they done them or leave them go for to long. I’ve got three of them running. After watching this video I’m going clan one of them today.
One of mine is clear..its the smallest if that's dirty I know the others are not far behind..
👍😎 Been there, done that. Your idea of getting us to remind you to do it again, brilliant. ✌️
8:18 best video ever!!!
The more goo the better!! I dont think that is bad actually. The more the filter is clogged up the better it cleans the water. Of course you need good circulation. And at that point is where i clean my filters. When I raise fry, I normally let them live in that type of gunk and never do a water change. And that is working great for me. I have seen videos like Deans fishroom where everything is perfectly clean. But that is not working for me. My best success rate is when gunk is build up all over the tank and I do minimal amount of maintenance. So dont blame yourself. I think it is more harmful to the tank when you keep it "to" clean.
I feel your pain... But I had to put a clothespin on my nose just to watch 😂
I have two turtles in a 125 gal tank and a fluval fx6 canister filter... i clean it maybe
... once a year its not even CLOSE to this... o.o and turtles are dirty things.. so i cant imagine what those water parameters are. 😅 his tank looks so clean tho!!
My cichlids tank i have a single hang on the back filter but they live with a ton of plecos.. so maybe those plecos save that tank.
Love your honesty! Suns out guns out!!
I have a one year old setup 32.5 fluval flex all in one. I substituted the standard carbon bags with Matrix and added optional second light and a small UV-c light that I run once in a while. Substrate is fluorite red avg 3” some stones, about 33% (visual impression) planted, a bubble wall run by usb pump. The load is high in my opinion but it’s nano fish, amano shrimp and mystery snails all told about 130-5 creatures. Water parameters nominal and clear. Now to the point…I’ve “cleaned” the two foam filter twice and found almost no solid waste each time. Has anyone had a similar experience?
New fishkeeper here-I love your vids, and your honesty! Also ew that filter was grody to the max! 😂
LOL. Grody to the max...we must be around the same age. I haven't heard that term in years! I am happy to read that you like my videos!
@@TazawaTanks lol yeah after I sent that I was like “welp, now everyone knows how old I am🤦🏼♀️” hahaha It’s all good though, I love being a child of the 70s/80s! ❤️
That was one crazy dirty filter lol. Zenzo If you wanted you could set a date in your phone calendar when you want to clean it and it will give you a notification.
once a quarter..or every 3 months is a good schedule for a heavy stocked tank
I’m running two FX6’s on a 125 S.American cichlid tank and clean them when the flow starts to slow down, it’s mainly the polishing pads that are full of muck that slow the flow. I didn’t see you replace the polishing pad, do you use them and if not, do you have a problem with fine particles in the tank?
Put the bio balls in bottom tray. It's time to clean when output is noticeably slow.
Looks like perfect timing to me
Dude you don't let it go for more then 3 months, I hope that you remembered to clean the moter I'm sure it was a mess
I had to giggle. But things happen in life! Your fish don't seem any worse for the wear!
I love your little mud skippers and always enjoy seeing them, by the way. They look comical. But at the same time, are so cute..
I never clean my mechanical filter media in tank water i always use a hose for that.
Hi….have you tried the coop pre filter on that Fx6…total game changer…ask Ben Ochart…I haven’t messed with my sunsun 3000 in over a year..last time I cleaned it..it had gone 6 months total wast of time it was pretty clean..now over a year water crystal..and good flow…90g..big green terror and 10 other cichlid s…COOP pre filters are AWESOME 👍
Yep, I do have one on there.
This is the problem with can filters we all hate to clean them and figure we will do this next week and a month go's by and it get bad
Great Video Zenzo !!!! Love the effort you put in to it keep it up 👍🏾
Holy cow. That’s insane. Was the flow still sting coming out of the out take tubes?
sponge prefilter on my 2 fx.
I have a question. I agree with you about sponge filters being nice, but there is a sound issue for me when it comes to air filtration. Could you suggest an air filter that is quieter than a small aquaclear? Thanks in advance
Add an airstone into the sponge filter if you haven't already. Cory from Aquarium Co-op has a great vid on it. Cuts the noise in half.
Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it and I'll give it a try
I think I missed it, sponge filters use electricity and plugs as well, or do you mean because you can run a USB hub, so four or so USB nano air pumps off one USB port?
I have a central air pump (linear piston). It flows through 1” PVC piping along the ceiling. What I am saying with air, is that you can have one pump plugged in, providing air to a lot of tanks. Even a smaller air pump (normal diaphragm type) can easily power a few sponge filters.
Why roast you? I love my cannister. I probably change mine once every 6-12 months, but I also have prefilters on the intake that I clean more often. But 30-40 minutes once a year isn't a bad time investment at all.