How and how often do I clean my fish filter?

Question

I have an Aqua Clear 500 with a sponge insert

Answer 1

All you really want to do is rinse the sponge in tank water when you do a water change. Every other change would be good. You can replace the carbon about once a month or every 6 weeks depending on the load in the tank.

The sponge holds much of your biological bacteria, so you don't want to wash it with hot water or anything that will keep the bacteria.

MM

Answer 2

I am not familiar with that sort of filter, but if it's one that can be disassembled and rinsed out with water, then that would probably be the best way to do. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water and scrub off the algae inside it or on it. Never use soap, the residue is toxic to fish. As for how often, it's probably good to clean it every month at the most, when you change the filter.