"SPONGE FILTER"

[OTISJOEPRETTY]

Why after about 3~4 months my little 10gal. sponge filters are not pumping like they was ?
Maybe I don't know how to clean them properly !!!

Please help !

[linuxrulesusa]

Squeeze them a bit in a bucket of tank water.  Don't completely wring them out but they do need a good rinsing.

If they are with plecos might have to be pretty often. My aquaclear sponges get clogged quickly in with plecos.

[Ron]

Squeeze them a bit in a bucket of tank water.  Don't completely wring them out but they do need a good rinsing.

x2.

Just compress and release a few times, then change the water so it's clean again and not brown, then do it a few more times until there's less gunk being released. Remember to also squeeze the air bubbles out when you put it back into the tank.

[OTISJOEPRETTY]

THANKS !

[LoveTheFishies]

Make sure its tank water and not tap water.  Tap water can destroy the biologic filter (good bacteria) in the sponge.

[Marty]

It's usually a good idea to have more than one filter in the tank, so you can switch off thoroughly rinsing one out.  That way, you still have beneficial bacteria in one, and the other gets the waste out of the water.

[Dan K]

If it's the flow of bubbles coming out of them that is decreased that is often due to build up inside the tubes. Take the sponges off and poke toothpicks in any holes you can, or run a pipe cleaner through it if it fits. I have that issue at times and find gunk built up inside them.

[Regalblue]

If it's the flow of bubbles coming out of them that is decreased that is often due to build up inside the tubes. Take the sponges off and poke toothpicks in any holes you can, or run a pipe cleaner through it if it fits. I have that issue at times and find gunk built up inside them.

StingRay barbs work good also. 

[Ron]

It's usually a good idea to have more than one filter in the tank, so you can switch off thoroughly rinsing one out.  That way, you still have beneficial bacteria in one, and the other gets the waste out of the water.

x2! And if the unit is the exact one shown in the picture, you can get this done by just alternating which half is rinsed every 2-4 weeks.