Maintenance for Canister Filter?

Question

I have a Fluval 205.

Beside changing carbon and ammonia remover, what else do you do with your canister filter?

Do you occasionally open the filter and pour away the dirty water in there, and refill it with tank water? If so, often? And is it bad for beneficial bacteria at all?

Do you occasionally rinse the sponge? Even if there's no apparent stuff that are blocking the pores?

What else do you do?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I have a Fluval 405. It's pretty nifty. It's the first canister filter I've owned.

I only replace one media at the time so I don't get rid of the beneficial bacteria. According to the DVD that came with it, dumping the water won't get rid of the bacteria and that you should just change one media at a time. You pretty much have to dump the water when you replace things on the filter. You have to refill with new water anyway because your tank level  is going to go down once it starts pumping again.

I rinse out the sponges and use them for about 6 months. Then I cut out my own out of the bulk stuff from the filter aisle at the pet store. It's good to replace them. But again only replace one media at a time.

I have like 8 compartments because I have the 405 so I'm trying different things. When I do the next carbon change I'm switching to the carbon/zeolite blend.