Cleaning a Sponge Filter
When and how to clean a sponge filter and its airlift tube without destroying the beneficial bacteria, then restart it and check the flow.
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Equipment Maintenance
Cleaning a Canister Filter
Clean a canister filter safely: rinse the media without losing the biofilter, clean the impeller and hoses, reprime it, and check it afterwards.
Replacing Filter Media
Filter media does not need to look clean to be useful. In an established freshwater aquarium, sponges, ceramic media, and other filter surfaces hold much of the biofilm that helps process fish waste.
Heater Maintenance
Aquarium heater maintenance: monthly checks, removing buildup, testing accuracy, safe placement, signs of failure, and when to replace it.
Air Pump Troubleshooting
An aquarium air pump is a simple device, but a problem anywhere between the pump, airline, valves, and airstone can reduce or stop the bubbles you see in the tank.
Cleaning Aquarium Glass
Clean aquarium glass inside and out: tools for glass and acrylic, stubborn algae, waterline mineral deposits, and how often to do it.
Cleaning Driftwood
How to clean driftwood before and after it goes in the tank: inspection, soaking and tannins, when boiling helps, and dealing with mold and biofilm.
How Often Should You Vacuum Gravel?
How often to vacuum aquarium gravel based on stocking and feeding, how to do it properly, and how to treat planted tanks, sand and aquasoil.
Filter Flow Problems
Fix aquarium filter flow problems: causes of weak flow, cleaning, flow that is too strong, dead spots, air locks, and when to repair the filter.
Filter Noise Solutions
Find and fix filter noise: splashing, a rattling impeller, gurgling air, humming and vibration, restricted flow, and noises that signal a hazard.