How To Clean Aqueon Quiet Flow Filter

OldMan47

If it is starting to become plugged with material that it has filtered out, definitely rinse it in old tank water. I use the water in my water change bucket to rinse out filter media. If it is not beginning to plug and you are still cycling the tank, it would be better to wait as long as you can but still not let it plug on you.

Drum, don't give in to the temptation to replace any sponges because they look bad. Cleaning in old tank water is all you'll ever need to do. The only time you'll need to replace sponges is when they're literally falling apart; even then you shouldn't replace it all in one go. Manufacturers would love us to replace filter media every two minutes, but that only achieves two things: 1) your filter will be constantly cycling and 2) you'll have empty pockets.

A charcoal layer in a filter will serve both as mechanical and biological filtration in addition to its primary function of chemical filtration. Smoke is correct, the chemical filtration (the whole point of using charcoal) is only functional for about 3 days and then is ready to be replaced. The main uses for charcoal are to remove medications, to remove yellow tannins from wood and to remove occasional organic odors of unknown source, otherwise charcoal is not normally recommended for regular use in a filter. Nonetheless, if the filter has already cycled with it in there, it will contain biofilms that will be contributing to the biological filtration the filter does. Charcoal (carbon) is not nearly as ideal for this function, as ceramics and sponges are, because it gradually crumbles into smaller and smaller pieces, with the smallest of these carrying away some of the biofilms with water changes or cleanings.

~~waterdrop~~

I am not familiar with the Aqueon filters. In some cases where the manufacturer has designed a "screen" or a "cartridge" in an attempt to keep the customer buying replacements of the same brand, it can be tricky figuring out how to refill with something different. You just have to be resourceful. Some people do indeed slit open the foam sack type things and take out carbon and put in different media, like ceramic pellets or ceramic gravel type stuff.

:lol: have found myself studying all the different filters at the PetSmart the other day, not because I would buy any but because of all the questions on here. Must say it was kind of fun holding the U2, U3 boxes right in my hand, sometimes its a shock to see how small some of these internals are!