wet and dry question

[Geral]

Hi i put a wet and dry on my 55 and wanna know how often i need to clean it, I would like to ask the pros here
how often do you guys clean the bio balls and the pre filter and sponge inside of it?


that tank have a aq clear 110 with 2 sponge and ceramic for mechanical
2217 with all the media
power head with sponge
wave maker 800 gph
and the wet and dry rated for 150 gal with pre filter,bioballs, sponge +ceramic and carbon with a 700 gph pump


stock is WC colony of 21 chipimbi trophs

i put all the filtration and stock for better info of bio load

W/C is every weak

[myjohnson]

I clean the prefilters once and week.

The bio balls, I clean 50% every 6 months.

[fshfrk]

I never clean the bio balls or the pot scrubbers. The pre filter needs to be cleaned when it starts to clog. Which on a normal tank should be every 3-5 weeks. It depends how much food gets sucked into your overflow. The main problem is the build up of mulm in the sump. Which needs to be pythoned out every 5-6 months. I had 2 filament barb eggs make it thru the pre filter and into the wet/dry. Where they hatched and grew out. They do a wonderfull job of keeping the sump spotless. They have been in there for 6 months.

The wet/dry's with micron socks do not have this problem and always stay clean.

[algarciajr]

I also never clean the bio balls, but I do clean the pad and sponge about once a month. One of my wet dry's has a micron sock. Every couple of months I do siphon out all the sediment that settles on the bottom of my wet dry.

[myjohnson]

I use to never clean my bio balls either....until I decided to clean them a few years ago.

There was a lot more build up in them then I thought. So I stated cleaning them more often now. :)

[JasonC]

I'm with myjohnson - prefilter weekly and bioballs every 6 months or so. Make sure you clean the pad (not prefilter) in tank water - it harbors a good amount of beneficial bacteria. That goes for the bioballs too...tank water only.

[Geral]

Thanks to all of you guys for the awnsers i think i will go every 6 months
Sinse i dont have a micron sock later i will use one :)

[50cal17]

dose anyone know how to dIY build a wet dry and will it coast less just asking for info or if anyone build one before