How Do I Properly Clean & Change The Filters In My Tropical Fish Tank?
Aquarium filters are essential for fish tanks. They gather dirt and loose particles and act as the breeding ground for the colonies of beneficial bacteria that convert toxic waste products into less harmful forms, making the water suitable for fish to live in. For filters to remain efficient and effective, they need to be cleaned out regularly. The most common filtration systems involve canisters or containers equipped with different types of filter media, both of which need to be cleaned or changed regularly. Gather the bucket, siphon or plastic cup, sponge and filter brushes near the fish tank. You should not wash the filters in tap water, so there is no need to bring them to the sink. Siphon or scoop some water from the tank to the bucket. Tank water must be used so that the beneficial bacteria residing in the filter media remain alive. (The chlorine in tap water will kill the beneficial bacteria.) Unplug the filter mechanism and pull out the filter media. Rinse the filter media in
