How to Clean an Aquarium Canister Filter

A canister filter removes the metabolic waste of fish and other aquatic creatures that are kept in an aquarium. Canister filters typically have compartments in which biological, mechanical and chemical filter material is placed. All these filter media become exhausted at some point and require replacing. The canister filter should also be cleaned at the time the different filter materials are being changed. Modern canister filters have been designed to be user friendly and any hobbyist will be able to clean his canister filter, as required.

Things You'll Need

  • Canister filter
  • 2-quart plastic jug
  • 1-gallon plastic bucket
  • 10-gallon plastic bucket
  • Tooth brush
  • Activated carbon in nylon bag
  • Filter wool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unplug the power supply to the canister filter.

    • 2

      Loosen the clips that are securing the lid and remove it.

    • 3

      Remove both the intake and exhaust tubes from the body of the canister filter.

    • 4

      Use the plastic jug to remove 2 quarts of water from the aquarium. Pour this into the 1-gallon plastic bucket.

    • 5

      Remove the plastic bio balls from the canister and place them into the aquarium water. These balls are covered with the beneficial bacteria that are responsible for biological filtration in the aquarium and must not dry out.

    • 6

      Remove the exhausted activated carbon and discard it. Remove the used filter wool and discard it.

    • 7

      Fill the 10-gallon bucket with warm water and place the body of the canister filter into it. Use the tooth brush, clean off any encrusted algae or detritus that has accumulated inside the filter. Remove the filter from the bucket and rinse under a running tap to flush away the loose detritus and dirty water.

    • 8

      Place new activated carbon in a nylon bag and rinse thoroughly under running water to wash away any dust. Continue to run water over the charcoal until the water runs clear after passing through the charcoal.

    • 9

      Secure the nylon bag with the attached string.

    • 10

      Place the nylon bag into the designated filter compartment.

    • 11

      Place new filter wool into the canister filter, in such a way that aquarium water flows through the wool before it passes over the carbon. The filter wool prevents dead and decaying aquatic plant material and other large pieces of detritus from clogging the carbon and reducing its life expectancy.

    • 12

      Return the bio balls to the canister.

    • 13

      Rinse both the intake and exhaust tubes under a running tap and attach to the body of the canister filter. Ensure that there are no kinks or unnecessary bends in these tubes.

    • 14

      Fill the 2-quart plastic jug with aquarium water and fill the canister filter from this jug, to just below where the lid will fit on.

    • 15

      Place the lid onto the body of the canister filter and secure with the clips.

    • 16

      Plug the canister filter into a wall power source and turn on the wall power source.

    • 17

      Switch on the canister filter.

    • 18

      Depress the priming button, if the canister filter model that you have,

      has one. Four to six depressions of the priming button are normally required before the filter will begin working.