I know this is probally a dumb question, but can someone break down the instructions on the most simple way to clean a filter? I have found tons of ways online but, I just want to hear it from someone who knows what their doing. I could really use the help...

Thanks,
Allie

P.S. I have a Penguin 150 bio- wheel, even if you don't exactly know how to clean this type of filter, give me the basic cleaning steps as any other filter.

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29 Gallon Tank
1 Betta
2 Peppered Cory Catfish
3 Glow Light Tetras
3 Jumbo Neon Tetras
3 Rasboras

Very simple.

First are you sure you need to break down and fully clean it.
I break down and clean mine every other month.
Only replace the filter once a month.
Rinse out the filter weekly under cold tap water.

I follow the sam procedure for each time I work on the filter.
unplug the unit .
have a bucket large enough to put the entire filter in it.
remove the top cover.
and grasp the top of the intake tube with your thumb and forefinger
and pull straight up while holding the rest of the filter down.
Put the intake tube gently in the bucket as the impeller might be on the end of the intake tube.

Then lift the filter straight up and keep it level or you will spill the
remaining water into the tank or on the floor.
trust me it will be yucky.
put the entire filter in the bucket,

take it to the kitchen sink.
make sure the area you are working in is rinsed clean and no soap is in the sink.

If you are only rinsing the filter cartridge I also do a quick rinse of the filter also to get rid of any large particles.
Just run the filter cartridge under cold water and gently rub the filter with your hand until the water runs clear.

Don't worry about rubbing the bio wheel just run cold water over it.
You can lift the intake tube up and out of the filter carefully.

Just hold it under the cold water and rub off any debris with your fingers.

put everything back together except the intake tube and put the filter back into the bucket.
put the filter back on the tank and put the intake tube back in the filter and make sure it does go all the way down into the filter.

Keep a large plastic cup to dip into the tank to refill the filter after you put it back on the tank before you plug it back in.

Once you have filled the filter up with water from the tank to the point it is overflowing into the tank like when it is running.
Then it is ok to plug it back in.
it will make some noise and it should start in about a minute. If it sounds like it is grinding too much the impeller might not be seated properly.
don't panic just pick up the intake tube and put it back in and it should drop down into the right spot.

and you are done.

Try not to clean them too often. I clean mine if I notice that the water flow isn't as strong as it used to be. Keeping the impellar clean is a good idea, and just rinsing the media in dirty water change water is good to keep it from clogging. Over cleaning filters/media can lead to re-cycling.

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Agreed that is why I never use hot water. The BB that remains is more than enough to keep things going.
and what is in the substrate.

What is a substrate? I'm sorry, That's probally like a duh you should know that question, but I am a newbie, still learning... So, what exactly is it?

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29 Gallon Tank
1 Betta
2 Peppered Cory Catfish
3 Glow Light Tetras
3 Jumbo Neon Tetras
3 Rasboras

your gravel, sand or whatever is on the bottom of the tank

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Tank
125g african cichlids making it work
75g rimless Reef in progress

thanks, then I have just basic gravel if that's important...

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29 Gallon Tank
1 Betta
2 Peppered Cory Catfish
3 Glow Light Tetras
3 Jumbo Neon Tetras
3 Rasboras

If you have a well established tank it can hold a lot of bacteria that is good for the tank, something like sand will hold a lot less because it is harder for all of it to work deep into such a fine substrate. i believe they were asking because if you do choose to clean the filter the bacteria in your gravel may save your tank from recycling so it is good you have a gravel

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Tank
125g african cichlids making it work
75g rimless Reef in progress

Unless your filter is really dirty, there isn't much need to clean it. Some people clean them once a year even.

It's a good idea to clean the impeller and intake tubing once every few months, to keep them free of debris, and rinse all your media in dirty fish change water every few months to keep them free of debris as well.

But a full scrubbing of a filter really isn't ever needed. And, sponges and biomax can last for a year or more. Only ever change them if they are losing their shape or falling apart. If you use carbon, you can change that once a month (since it looses any effectiveness after a few weeks) but even that can just be left in the filter for longer just to be used as extra bacteria holding material.

Yep, there is a lot of beneficial bacteria in the gravel, but remember, there is a whooooooole lot of it in the filter media, so don't change/clean it too much. Obliterating the filter bacteria can run the risk of causing a re-cycle.

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981