Filter clogs every two weeks or less!?!

[Michael Bean]

Hi there! This is my first post here... I've had my aquarium for a little over a year and the four fish seem pretty happy (Black Tetra, Cherry Barb, shiny rainbow fish and sucker fish). My filter ran fine for almost the whole year but suddenly a few months ago it started to clog up. I was replacing the filter cartridge every 2 weeks or less, and cleaning the inside of the filter. Figuring this filter was just too old, I bought a new (cheap) filter and within a week and a half the same thing happened. Then I bought an expensive filter and the same thing happened. I've tried hand-cleaning the filters, I've tried replacing the water in the tank, nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any suggestions? The only thing I can think of and have not done is remove the fish and clean the entire tank and accessories...

[Reefneck]

Sounds like you are overfeeding. How much and how often are you feeding?

[fish_doc]

First off welcome to the forum and thanks for stopping in.

I agree, Even if you are feeding the same amount you always have it may be that the bioload in the rest of the tank has hit its max and cannot handle any more.

Do you have a undergravel filter on the tank also or is it only the one you are putting on the back? And when you do maintinace cleanings or partial water changes do you use a gravel vac? That would help somewhat but overall the filters that you are using pick out floating particals in the water. The most common would be food. Another could be fish waste. But since you have not added anymore fish to the tank it is unlikely. One other thing could have to do with the food. Have you changed brands of food you feed them? If so it may not be as good for them causing them to let it generate more waste as they digest it.

There are a few things to think about. Let us know of any other clues you could give us that might let us help you out.

[Michael Bean]

Thanks for the ideas! I usually feed the fish only a pinch a night, I've had the same bottle of food the whole time (over a year- maybe it's gone bad?) I use the gravel pump only once a month, it's a real pain to use with a live plant and props and stuff, but I probably need to empty out the tank and clean everything, replace the gravel, etc. Thanks again for your tips. Now if I clean everything, etc, is there any recommended way to (or *not* to) seriously clean the three filters I have? The older ones are kinda crusty with white deposits. I thought maybe bleach or hydrogen peroxide but I'm so afraid there will be residue that would hurt the fish.

[Damon]

Oh no no no no no!!! Don't do that!
You do need to use your gravel cleaner more. Just hover it above the gravel. You dont have to dig into it. Just put it on top. You should "gravel" clean once a week in a planted tank.

[Michael Bean]

Oh I hope you don't think I meant I'd put the bleach or peroxide IN the tank WITH the fish! My thought was that I could put the filter in a bucket with some type of cleaner for a while, then run it for a few days in clean running water to get rid of the chemicals. Don't worry, it was only a thought, as I don't know how to seriously clean these filters.

[fish_doc]

If the water is flowing through the filter it is fine. The white calcium build up on them is not a issue as far as the operation of the filter. The most important part is to be sure the water lift tube is clear and the impeller spins. beyond that you dont want to clean the filter to often. The filter itself is fine but the enclosure is another place the benefical bacteria builds up to help seed the new filter.

[emc7]

Do you have black bottle brush or hair algae? Those clog filters. Are you feeding algae wafers? They have a lot of fiber.

[emc7]

You can clean the hardwater desposit (white stuff) off with limeaway, but it will kill your biology and require multiple rinses. Some people use vinegar, its safer, but takes forever (good to soak things in though).

[girth vader]

by clog do you mean reduced water flow? If so, then rinse out the insert in a bucket that has tank water ( so u dont kill the beneficial bacteria) and put it back in. Do this every cpl of weeks if need be. That should help.

Zig.

[mousey]

another thing I found that clogs filters is medications. Some antibiotics have a gluey substance in them that makes the tank and filter look as if some dumped a bottle of mucilage in it.