If you use a sponge filter or a prefilter sponge (to cover the intake tube of yourhang-on-back or canister filter) then hopefully it is made out of coarse spongematerial with a larger porosity so it can hold more waste and go longer betweencleanings. You can see visually that when the sponge is full it is full of brownishgunk. Most hobbyists just pick up the sponge and take it out of the tank to clean,which results in a cloud of brown waste being released into the water. This move islike emptying your vacuum inside your house. There's a big chance you're going toget dust everywhere." Instead, we prefer to employ the following method:
1.Fill a large fish bag or gallon-sized Ziploc plastic bag with tank water and, while it isstill underwater, place the sponge in the bag. Next, carefully remove the bag fromthe tank, trying to keep as little dirty fish poop from escaping the sponge as possible.
2.Place the bag over a bucket so that you will not spill water on the floor whilecleaning.
3. When cleaning a sponge filter, be sure to remove the strainer basket, base andother components from the foam sponge before cleaning it.
4. Squeeze the sponge several times in the bag until the water in the bag is totallybrown. Pour the dirty water out into the bucket. (Malaysian trumpet snails like toburrow in the sponge, so be careful that you don't get stabbed by their pointy shells.)
5. Place sponge back in the empty bag and use the bag to get more water from theaquarium. Squeeze the sponge several times until the water is brown and pour thewater into the bucket.
6. Repeat Step 4 about 3-4 times, until the water in the bag is no longer brown.
7.Clean the other parts of the filter by rinsing them with water and if necessary scrubthem with a toothbrush.
8. Replace the sponge filter or pre-filter sponge and pour the dirty bucket water onyour indoor or outdoor plants to reuse as fertiliser.
9.Fill up the aquarium as needed. The water will look cloudy right after cleaning thefilter, but it should clear up in a few hours.
