Sponge Filter Cleaning

[laferme]

How often should I clean my sponge filter?

[Guppysnail]

I don’t know the technical when your supposed to but I have always just done mine when they are pretty gunky and look like the flow might not get through well. I’m sure someone has a real answer for you but this works for me on coop ones. Fine foam filters once a week because the clog so easy and I could never really tell.

[laferme]

Thankyou GS. I have a co-op one, going on a year; never cleaned it .Cannister filter gets cleaned maybe month and a half. Water changes regular.........I guess Ill clean it,,,,,wonder when you should buy a new one?

Edited August 8, 2021 by laferme

[lefty o]

unless the sponge itself is falling apart, really no reason to buy a new one.

[GameCzar]

I usually let mine go until the flow is effected, my snails love the gunk.

 

[Jeff]

I clean maintenance mine every week when I do water changes. 

Keeping things on a schedule makes things much easier for myself. 

[Patrick_G]

On 8/8/2021 at 2:09 PM, GameCzar said:

I usually let mine go until the flow is effected, my snails love the gunk.

 

I’m the same. I have both power and air driven coarse sponges. The air driven ones seem to stay clear for months. The power ones need a squeeze about once a month. 

[Patrick_G]

Make sure to use Cory’s trick when cleaning them. Place a plastic bag around the sponge before lifting it out. 

[Streetwise]

I haven’t cleaned my Co-Op sponge filters yet because my Otocinclus, shrimp and snails do it for me!

[HH Morant]

It is good to let the sponge filters go a long time between cleanings. They become better biological filters that way. Cleaning them too often or too thoroughly makes it difficult for the good bacteria to become established.

[Odd Duck]

I clean them when flow is slowed.  The longer between the better the BB’s.