Filter Floss Clogging? Here’s What To Do!

Last Updated on February 17, 2022 by cmoarz

There’s nothing worse than a clogged filter. And nothing clogs a filter faster than filter floss clogging. The problem is filter floss tends to grab all the tiny particles (by the design of course), That’s what we use it for after all. But this tends to hamper water flow. So what should you do?

Reasons why it’s clogging so fast

The reason we use filter floss in the first place is to collect all the tiny particles floating in the water and keep them from going back into your tank so they can be safely removed, keeping the water crystal clear.

But if there are too many particles in the water, especially when your sump is already clogged with detritus, you will be using filter floss much more often than usual. As a result, it can be clogged extremely fast, especially if you’re using it on a power filter.

So right off the bat, the first reason filter floss clogs so fast is because it needs to, and it’s fulfilling its purpose.

But another reason has to do with the kind of filter floss you’re using. Specifically, it’s due to its lack of uniformity and correct thickness for your application.

What To Look For

Some filter floss is extremely thin, which can allow more water to pass through, but maxes out its usefulness faster.

Some filter floss is too thick, Which catches more debris but eventually hampers the ability for maximum water throughput, especially if the floss is not installed correctly.

Since it’s a balance between what you need and what you can actually use, using a thin filter floss to its max potential will yield a longer lifespan but might stop cleaning faster as a result. Using too thick of filter floss will increase your filtration efficiency but will yield a shorter lifespan.

How to prevent it

So the best way to keep your filter floss from clogging too fast is to find a balance between these two aspects.

You should use thin filter floss, but not so thin that it will be easily clogged by particles. You can instead opt for normal thickness or slightly thicker than usual.

If you’re using filter floss on a power filter, you have to make sure it’s installed properly. I know that sounds like common sense but for some reason, people neglect to take necessary precautions and end up with an over-clogged mess.

When loading in the floss, pull it apart a bit and make it look more like a rat’s nest. This will increase surface area while leaving enough gaps for water to continue to get through easier.

Also, consider lowering the amount of work the filter floss needs to do by lowering the number of particles in your water. Cleaning it regularly will not only keep your filter floss from clogging but will also help prevent any accidents that may happen when you least expect them to.

Also, avoid overfeeding fish, and turn off the filter when you are feeding your fish to prevent excess food from getting sucked up into the filter.

Also, consider adding a large pore sponge before the water hits the filter floss so you can filter out the big bits before they clog up the floss itself! This little tip could add on an extra month between changes!

And at the end of the day, No matter what you do, filter floss is meant to get clogged, it means it’s working. Changing it out frequently is just one more responsibility on the to-do list. At least it’s cheap!