Cleaning your filter
1. Turn the canister filter off at the socket and
unplug.
2. Turn both of the taps to the off position. Fig 1
3. Place a towel or a shallow container under
the canister unit. This will prevent any water
spilling onto your cabinet or stand and
damaging it.
4. Disconnect the taps from the head unit by
unscrewing them. Undo the collar closest to the
head of the filter. Not the ones on the same side
as the hose. Please note some water will leak
out. Fig 2
5. Fill a bucket with water from your aquarium
and take it to the sink or wherever you intend to
clean your filter. Keep in mind cleaning your
filter can be messy, cleaning is recommended
outside or at a sink. Ensure the area is clean
and free from soaps and detergents.
6. Open the canister. Release the 4 clips and
remove the head unit, place it somewhere safe
where it will not be trodden on or broken.
7. Remove the filter grid, extend the handles on
the media baskets and remove them from the
canister body. Fig 3
8. Remove the filter sponges and the white
wool from the media baskets and dunk the
baskets with the bioballs and ceramic noodles
(Or any other type of biological media which
may be in them) several times into the bucket.
This will clear some of the dirt that can build up
and clog the media and prevent the good
bacteria which aid in breaking down pollutants
in your aquarium from being killed by the
chlorine in tap water.
9. Either replace or rinse the white wool pad
using a high pressure hose. It should be
replaced regularly or when it begins to
deteriorate and can no longer be cleaned
properly.
10. The sponges can also be rinsed in the
bucket of aquarium water (Providing the water
is not dirty. Replace if necessary) they will also
require replacement eventually as over time
they clog and prevent water from traveling
through them easily.
11. Empty the bucket of aquarium water into the
canister body. (Avoid tipping any dirt which may
have settled on the bottom of the bucket into
the canister)
12. If you have a Aquis 500 or 1000 your
bioballs are located here. Simply swirl the filter
around to loosen and dirt on the bioballs off and
then empty the canister body ensuring the
bioballs do not fall out.
13. Place the sponges back into there
respective positions and reinsert the media
baskets back into the canister body ensuring
that each media basket sits nicely on top of the
other.
Fig 2
Fig 1
Fig 3
Off
