How Often do I clean my FX5 Filter?

qualitydaydream · Dec 5, 2008

I have a diry FX5 filter and nitrates that are too high.

How Often do I clean my FX5 Filter?

How often do I buy new sponges inside the filter?

Anything wrong with canister filters like the FX5 for my 180?

When doing water changes do I need to let the water sit overnight after getting it to the proper salinity.

One of my fish appears to have a little ich, what is the best way help it?

thanks for your help!

RemickJ · Dec 6, 2008

Hey -- Going to try to hit a couple of these for you based on my experience.

qualitydaydream said: ↑

I have a diry FX5 filter and nitrates that are too high. Can you clarify to high?

How Often do I clean my FX5 Filter? ---- How much rock do you have in the tank? If you have a lot of rock then you really are not relying on the canister filter for biological so a more frequent cleaning should not hurt you. Frequency of the cleaning would depend on a few things.. How dirty is the water? What is the bio load in the tank? If it were me I would get a sump. If I had to use a canister I would add alot of rock in the tank to build up the biological - from there I would clean the FX5 weekly or bi weekly (again depending on load.)

How often do I buy new sponges inside the filter? Again I'm a bit picky and if there was a lot of rock I wold replace the sponges at the point I was not easily able to get them clean.

Anything wrong with canister filters like the FX5 for my 180? They hold Nitrates.. I bought one of these for my 120 and then took it back before set up as everyone on this forum recomended a sump. A Sump airates the water better, gives you a place for your skimmer, heaters, and really just cleans up the look of your display tank. In my Sump I keep Macro algae which uses up key elements that bad algae needs to grow in the main tank. This process also keep Nitrates down as well.

When doing water changes do I need to let the water sit overnight after getting it to the proper salinity. You will get many opinions on this.. I use RO/DI water and I mix let it sit for a half our or so to make sure all salt is disolved. I than make sure the temp is the same as the tank and I do the change.

One of my fish appears to have a little ich, what is the best way help it?

First I would say make sure your parameters are where they need to be. Parameters that are not dialed in caused stress which weakens the immune system of the fish. Not sure what kind of fish it is but I would soak food in garlic and supplement with Vitamin C. I use Kent Marine Garlic Extream. It is expensive but I do like the product.

Best of luck to you.. If you could give us your tank parameters that might help us point you in the right direction even further.

thanks for your help!
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How Often do I clean my FX5 Filter?

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