How to Clean AquaClear Filters

This is a complete guide for cleaning AquaClear filters. There are also tips for fixing and reassembling AC filters, which comes in handy if you have a jammed impeller or loud noise.
Aquaclear filter: amzn.to/32vhysV
First, you'll want to turn off the power and pull the filter off of the tank. We'd recommend partially filling a bucket with tank water to rinse off the filter media. Taking the filter basket out and placing the media (sponge, ceramic rings, etc.), wash off gunk and build up from the media in the bucket of tank water.
If you're fixing the impeller, twist at the arrow and pull off of the filter. Rinse the waste off of the impeller. Many times the loud noises or jammed filters are due to the impeller being clogged by debris.
You can remove the intake and pull each piece apart to clean thoroughly. This is very easy to reassemble once done cleaning. The case of the filter, as well as the impeller and intake tube, do not house the beneficial bacteria, so they can be rinsed with tap water.
Once completed, fill your filter basket back up with your media (we'd recommend sponges at the bottom, followed by chemical/bio media), and place the basket back into the filter.
Once the impeller and intake tube are reattached as well, you can place the filter back on the tank and turn the power back on. To help prime the AquaClear filter, you can take a cup of tank water and pour into the opening of the container. You should now be all set!
Thanks so much for watching! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below, and if you haven't already, please consider subscribing!

[@ivanalovemore1686]

Best walkthrough I have seen yet, thank you!! I always add a little bit of bottle bacteria to my tank after I clean my filter just in case I may have cleaned out "too much" 🙂

[@eugeniabuitron172]

Thank you for saving me a trip to buy a new filter! I had just taken it apart and cleaned it while doing maintenance on my tank and then it wouldn't work! I was just about to go out when I decided to see if anyone else had the same issue and low and behold there was your video!! I did what you suggested and voila working filter again!! I can't thank you enough....

[@CichlidBros]

Glad this was helpful for you. Thanks for watching!

[@pattyfrance5331]

I just started using these filters. I love it already. The others just get dirty so fast and those replacement filters are no good and the beneficial bacteria is getting changed all the time. I did wash off the old filter and took a pair of scissors and cut a piece to place in the filter under the biofilter. Thanks for all the helpful videos. I have learned so much in my 6 months of fish keeping!

[@pomegranatehoneydews]

thank you for posting! I don't want to waste my money on buying foam, etc. so it's good to know beforehand that I can just rinse the sponge until it gets too old.

[@jackanddan]

Love these filters and been using them forever....have one that we’ve superglued together 4 times cause it got cracked and it still runs like new and is about 16 years old....You should make a huge tank full of beakers and flasks and all kinds of experimentation like that with colored led lights and it would be great for your class room....we are talking to Jack’s science teacher about making one for his class....👍

[@CichlidBros]

Jack and Dan haha, that’s a great idea! And I hope your teacher listens 👍🏻👍🏻

[@FullMoonAquatics]

Nicely done instructional video. We use several Aqua Clear HOBs as well. Unsolicited words of caution- Careful with impellers and the pin they sit on. One false move and impeller and/or motor may have to be replaced. Slightly bent, they get noisy too. Also, Purigen should be replaced or recharged on occasion. It’s great, similar to carbon for clearing water but lasts longer. We keep a few extras and rotate when they need to be replaced or recharged. 😉

[@CichlidBros]

Full Moon Aquatics those are great points! We only advise cleaning/fixing the impeller if there’s an issue or noise, just to avoid creating problems. We do the same thing with Purigen!

[@Luceium01]

Can you explain more about the Purigan?

[@ketchup9084]

Thank you so much for this video! It saved me a trip and my money to buy new filters 😅. I do have one question; when do you have to replace your filters?

[@jessegarmong9522]

Great video, I was clueless how to fully clean mine. I’m having a issue where I thinking it’s not sucking good enough to get the other half of make taking. Making on side develop algae and the other clean

[@weenerdoggs]

This is a very helpful and concise video! Thanks very much!

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ellenrappaport7536]

Thank you so much. I recently changed to a Fluval 30 and didn't know if I needed to buy all new filter inserts of to wait.

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@XEmeralDQueenX]

Just got one of this filters today, can't wait to set it up. thank you for this video that will keep in the clear on how to maintain the filter in the future!!! :)

[@carayoung710]

Thanks just bought my first tank. Got this filter. Thank you for video as I know 0 about it all lol

[@DawnMichele]

GREAT video & information for those who own these filter's!!!

[@CichlidBros]

Dawn Michele thanks so much!

[@OBEYbryant]

Thank you! This deserves more views!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you - much appreciated!

[@litoloco4fish]

Are you a science teacher...? If so I wish in school I had an aquarium too...I tried to talk my high school teacher to letting me add an aquarium in my favorite class..SCIENCE/BIOLOGY!!! .SCHOOL doesn't allow...loved the video and you seem to be a awesome teacher!!! If I'm mistaken about this I apologize ..

[@CichlidBros]

Lito Loco 4 Fish yep, I’m a high school biology teacher. We have 4 aquariums in the classroom currently, and the kids seem to love them 👍🏻

[@litoloco4fish]

@@CichlidBros ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ awesome teacher!!!!!!!!👌👌👌👌💯💯💯💯💯

[@kellyharrison6726]

Thank you for this video, I really appreciate how you explained everything.

[@CichlidBros]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@luizsarfilho619]

Very nice, and I improve cleaning with a string!

[@emberaquatics2534]

These filters are great, thanks for the tips!

[@CichlidBros]

Stonefly Aquatics thank you!

[@samsmith4216]

Great video. Much help. Thank you!

[@CichlidBros]

No prob!

[@lindaschneerer2700]

Great job! Thank you so much! You showed me everything I needed to know. You're the best!! :-)

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@DuronVN11]

Great video!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@celgibson7219]

Great job, i just got this filter last week. Thanks .

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DavidToppMelanieScot]

Excellent & helpful video!!!

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidnowparvar2209]

Best filters , great video !

[@CichlidBros]

david Nowparvar thank you!

[@pcpc9358]

thanks great video. .gave me some ideas on cleaning going forward. . .i love thses filters, ive tried of them from internal sponge to external canister, and everything inbetween, You can rig the basket to your liking. I follow pond guru with the sponge it comes with, then a medium sponge, next a polishing thin sponge. finally the biohome or matrix or the media it comes with. water clears up in a ziffy. very, very happy with this filter. I use in on the 4g, 9g, 6g and two on my long 12g all UNS tanks. thank again sir.

[@pcpc9358]

also add a fuval/or generic brand pre filter round sponge - keeping it even cleaner.

[@jarydleechristopher6154]

Great video...when should i clean my HOB filter for the 1st time? I plan on doing my first 20% water change soon

[@AquariumCop]

Great tips , especially the tap water ! ✌💞

[@CichlidBros]

AquariumCop thank you!

[@johnwood738]

Kept fish for a while just bought my first Aqua Clear for my grow out tank ,any tips for stopping hair algae in the u tube? Have to clean every three days it gets bad enough to slow filter way down. Used air and sponge filters before this.

[@johannenslin4136]

My 70-gallon tank is probably overstocked, but I have a large cleaning crew, which is mainly shrimp. I have an AquaClear 70 to which I added more rings and Seachem Matrix. I clean the filter once a week as per this video, add a maintenance dose of Seachem Stability weekly, and walla. I basically have no water quality issues, especially as far as Ammonia and Nitrites are concerned. The AquaClear Filter is a good and very affordable product here in South Africa despite the fact that it is imported. Regards, Johann from Centurion South Africa.

[@tinagates8565]

Such a great video. Thank you so much! How often do all the parts of the filter need to be replaced?

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! If properly maintained, the parts wouldn’t need to be replaced for a few years at least 👍🏻

[@kenjiro2676]

Once the pump stomps working, there should be replaceable ones in amazon

[@danieldonovan6686]

Thanks for this Video

[@CichlidBros]

Of course!

[@yunghenny805]

That was super helpful

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it helped!

[@TheFlutterrbye]

Thankyou for sharing this, I should have watched this along time ago. Question-do you think a prefilter is necessary? I have one, but it stays clogged and stops my filter from working properly. Also what is the easiest way to keep that little pointy thing from clogging if I don't use a prefilter? Thankyou for your time. 🐠🌹🐠

[@CichlidBros]

Flutterrbye Soon thank you - much appreciated! I would say prefilters are nice-to-haves, but aren’t necessities if your tank has enough filtration already. If it’s slowing flow in your AC too much, I’d recommend removing it or trying to find a more coarse prefilter that doesn’t clog as often (maybe aquarium co-op’s brand). Prefilters are really the best way to prevent these ACs from clogging

[@FostaFunk]

Enjoy the channel! Im just curious if you have hard water where you are? Some people in my area say that the aquaclear has a tendency to slow down, and sometimes will not turn back on after a power outage if your water is harder and more alkaline. I'm not sure if this is true or not, and I want to try out a 110 for my new 75 gallon because I like the discreet and sleek look of the filter.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for following along! I’m in Illinois and have hard water. As long as you do regular maintenance, I think the aquaclear is a reliable option long term

[@FostaFunk]

@@CichlidBros Cool! Thanks for the info, I think I may give this filter a shot!

[@paulm0573]

How long do the pumps on these units last for? I’ve had my aquaclear 20 for around 3 years now and every time I pull it sorry including the impeller for cleaning and assemble again, the flow is ok for a couple of days but then it struggles to pump back any water into the tank apart from a couple of trickles.

[@lynnducker]

Thank you so much!!!

[@CichlidBros]

You’re welcome!

[@aquariumcichlids1884]

Good video, tbh not a lot of ppl or hobbyists know how to wash the filters probably..

[@CichlidBros]

Nelson's freshwater aquariums thanks! Definitely agree. I know I was at that level once 👌🏻

[@hhfghghjjhg543]

Wash out the dirty sponge the same time with the not so dirty bio media and re use carbon? Not perfekt but at least with aquarium water 😉

[@howardworleyiii5764]

How often should this type or maintenance be done on these HOB filters? I don't want to damage my water column. Great video!!

[@CichlidBros]

I would try to do it every 2 months or so. If you have a heavy bioload, might need to increase that though. Thanks for watching!

[@jayjay2552]

Great video thanks for the tip

[@CichlidBros]

No problem. Thanks for watching!

[@JTD2]

Awesome video. Thank you!

[@CichlidBros]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@Niceguyfnshlast]

Newbie to this filter, how often do you change the media, the carbon , bio rings and sponge?

[@A.TAYLOR]

Should I switch out my carbon for Purigen? I’ve been wanting to try some.

[@CichlidBros]

Either works fine. But I started using Chemi Pure Blue and like it a lot

[@nhansme]

Great filters 👍👍 great video 👍👍

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@inky8294]

Im new to this raising fish hobby and I clean my filter and got the adapter wet accidentally and it didn’t work 😢 i thought i have to buy new one so i dried it outside not direct sunlight after it was working fine. Other than that thanks for showing how to clean it coz I didn’t remove the adapter now I knew.

[@bostrangles2287]

How often should I change my filter media?

[@PokeGummy]

Quick question with aqua clears, after a power outage the filter runs dry. Is there a way to stop that from happening? I needed this cleaning tutorial though

[@CichlidBros]

Gummy Aquatics great question. I don’t think there’s a way to avoid that unless you’re there when the power comes back on. You could fill the filter back up with water to get it to prime, but I think you’d need to be there 👌🏻

[@PokeGummy]

Cichlid Bros oh gosh that’s scary lol on vacation

[@notcassie12]

@@PokeGummy you could plug the filter into a UPC (Uninterruptable power supply) and that will keep it running for awhile if the power goes out.

[@janispeterson7302]

How often do you replace the filter media?

[@xlee_oh]

Hello this is a little late but on the filter instructions it advises every few months to completely replace each insert (at different intervals as to not complete remove all beneficial bacteria). Does this cleaning method bypass the replacement? Or will I still have to eventually replace each insert? Thank you in advance!

[@CichlidBros]

Yep. If you use sponges and bio media, you can just rinse off and reuse

[@xlee_oh]

@@CichlidBros perfect! Thank you for the quick reply!

[@jdssurf]

Is the Purigin from Seachem helping the fish or is it more just for clarity

[@CichlidBros]

Both. It pulls out impurities from the water

[@pikacho0]

so you don't even replace the 3 things inside? just clean them and put them back in?

[@stateniland]

DAM! I just tried pulling the steel pin from my Aquaclear 110 and it would not budge! I left it in for fear of making it worse.. any suggestions on removing that pin? I was using a good pair of pliers..

[@yob7120]

Nice video. I do have a question. I used to pay someone to clean my tank/filter bc I had surgery and could not do it myself. They told me there is no need to change the sponge or the Biomax; was told just to clean it occasionally. He never put the carbon back in; said it's not needed. Should those items not be changed out on occasions? My sponge is burgundy. I want to change them all out but scared it's going to kill my fish since they being in these conditions for a long time. Thanks

[@CichlidBros]

If you keep the bio media in the filter and just switch out the sponge, you would probably be fine. I would recommend only a light cleaning of the rest of the tank when you swap it out

[@yob7120]

@@CichlidBros thanks so much for your reply. You said I would 'probably' be ok switching out the sponge; I will try it & hope my fish be ok. I just bought 3 fish yesterday and the rest of them in my take have been there for years. Thx again

[@sigmamale7241]

How many times can I clean the media before having to replace it?

[@jfy1]

Cleaning the casing with tap water won’t ruin your cycle?

[@CichlidBros]

Copasetik_ 3 although the casing would have some bacteria, the vast majority would be with the media itself, so we’d recommend rinsing that portion with tank water. If you’d like to play it safe, tank water for the casing would be good, but I wouldn’t expect that to hurt the cycle much

[@hopepaul2500]

How often would you say to change the media completely?

[@CichlidBros]

I don’t think that necessary. I haven’t needed to change it out before

[@sergioluna3073]

¿How many filters do you have? Salute you from México.

[@suman5492]

How long does the powerhead attached lasts? Are spare ones available?

[@CichlidBros]

Suman Nath hey there. It has lasted a very long time for us. We haven’t had to replace any part for these filters in at least three years. If needed, they are available as replacement parts at some LFS and on amazon. Thanks for the comment!

[@debbiecarolla7511]

How many times do u do this and how many times do you do a water change

[@CichlidBros]

Depends on your tank and bio load. I do weekly water changes and clean the filter out every few months

[@patrickdoyle1704]

I have a question about the Fluval Aqua Clear filters. Have you had a issues with the "selfpriming" feature on them? I have to prime the filter every time I restart it, this has been prob. since new and seems to be a common issue amongst reviewers, thinking about a check valve on intake. Any thoughts or fixes would be greatly appreciated.

[@CichlidBros]

Definitely had the same issue with aquaclears. It’s a limitation of the filter since the motor is outside of the aquarium and it can’t self prime during maintenance or if power goes off/on. The Seachem tidal is nice because it self primes

[@patrickdoyle1704]

@@CichlidBros thank you for your recommendation. They really shouldn't use the words "self priming" if the pump doesn't self prime.

[@baseball1090]

How many times can you reuse the chemical part of the filter?

[@CichlidBros]

I usually replace it every 2-3 months. Some can be “recharged” like Seachem purigen, but usually just replace

[@Mr503Productions]

Can you use this filter for saltwater?

[@jessegarmong9522]

What you recommend the best for cleaning the gravel, I have a syphon but it takes forever

[@CichlidBros]

I use the python water changer

[@othersv9758]

You should use a sponce on your intake?

[@CichlidBros]

If you have small shrimp or fish, it’s a good idea

[@Pillin123]

subscribed :) thanks

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@sidneywhite749]

I need help. My Aquaclear keeps running dry, motor hot. This has happened at least 6 times. I cleaned the impeller housing and impeller each time with a qtip. What could be the issue It is mounted on a 20 high. I did install a intake extension, maybe the pump cant maintain suction? Help. Can I replace the impeller, if so are they all the same?

[@michaelwigen1360]

Make sure your aquarium is filled to the top so you don't lose suction.

[@kisshor1986]

Will it self start after a power cut or need prime it up again ?

[@CichlidBros]

Usually you need to add tank water to the back of the filter to get it running again

[@makiarn777]

Mine does it itself. I’ve had many power outages and no problem with it repriming without me doing anything.

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Cool

[@juli8vdberg562]

ps: if you’re in the EU, in most countries there is NO chlorine added to our tab water - so you can easily rinse your filtermedia

[@MNC122703]

Why is my sponge pink now?

[@michellebrathwaite8609]

Hi there, I set up the sponge to the bottom, the ammonia remover to the middle and the carbon filter to the top, is this ok?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, that should be a good setup 👌🏻

[@milahall4265]

So you just need to clean the filters in tank water? I thought you couldn't refuse it and had to buy new filters each time?

[@jr64798]

You can reuse it for sure it helps keep beneficial bacteria you have built up. They say replace every month or so just because they want you to give them money. I’ve been using my filter media for 6 months so far and it still has lots of life in it as long as you keep cleaning it in used aquarium water.

[@zhengpakho]

Does the filter need to be turn to full suction capacity? I noticed you didn't, why?

[@CichlidBros]

It doesn’t have to be, just depends on the amount of flow you want from the filter

[@zhengpakho]

@@CichlidBros Do you mind me asking, my tank is 55 gallon tank and I am using aquaclear 70, is the full flow capacity considered too much to circulate the tank? I am having 6 medium size discus in the tank. Thanks.

[@CichlidBros]

@@zhengpakho the flow rate should be just fine at the maximum setting in a tank of that size 👍🏻

[@Mamafish68]

Q-tip down impeller hole until clean!!!

[@januaribrown1839]

I just got my fluval aqua clear yesterday how often do you change it? And when should it be cleaned

[@CichlidBros]

I do maintenance about once every 1-2 months depending on how dirty the filter looks. For heavily stocked tanks, your filter may need more frequent cleanings

[@lil_sky9843]

What about the he Beneficial bacteria?

[@CichlidBros]

It’s explained in the video. Rinse media with tank water

[@TOsAquatics]

whats the point of cleaning the filter if all the gunk is beneficial bacteria? only "benefit" i could see is the aesthetic pleasure of seeing a clean filter

[@CichlidBros]

the decaying gunk is creating large amounts of nitrate, plus the filter performance diminishes with build up. bacteria isn't the "gunk", its microsopic and lives on media

[@PurpleWolfLego]

I wouldn’t clean your biomax. You just don’t need to and it can thought of the cycle

[@CichlidBros]

It’s a quick rinse in tank water. Not going to impact the cycle

[@raccooneyes2099]

how often do you replace these inserts? or is just rinsing them enough? i have this filter and its 5 months old and i didnt have many fish in the beginning and the water is crystal clear. but i want to make sure the fish are staying healthy with clean water.