How To Unclog A Penn Plax Under Gravel Aquarium Filter Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes

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How to Unclog a Penn-Plax Under Gravel Aquarium Filter
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Introduction

This guide will help you to completely remove the filter from the aquarium, clean the filter, and reinstall the filter all in a safe and efficient way.

Filtration is one of the main components in keeping fish in a safe habitat. The under-gravel filter helps by pulling water and debris down through the gravel at the bottom of the tank and providing oxygen for fish. Learning how to clean underground filters will help fish to live a longer and healthier life.

While working with electricity and water, be sure to be safe and unplug anything connected to electricity before starting the process.

What you need

Step 1

              How to Unclog a Penn-Plax Under Gravel Aquarium Filter

Locate your underground filter.
Underground filters are usually on the right or left side of the aquarium.

Locate your underground filter.

Underground filters are usually on the right or left side of the aquarium.

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Step 2

Use the fish net to remove fish from your fish tank.
The size of your fish net differs on how big your fish is. Use small, medium, or big size fish nets accordingly.
Catch the fish with the help of the fish net.
Add some water from the aquarium to a separate container large enough to hold the fish.
Move the fish to the container to continue the cleaning process.

Use the fish net to remove fish from your fish tank.

The size of your fish net differs on how big your fish is. Use small, medium, or big size fish nets accordingly.

Catch the fish with the help of the fish net.

Add some water from the aquarium to a separate container large enough to hold the fish.

Move the fish to the container to continue the cleaning process.

Step 3

Grab your underwater vacuum.
Underwater vacuums help to remove debris (waste products) from above the gravel. It collects the debris and pumps it out with the water.
Keep a bucket at a certain distance from the vacuum so water can easily flow.

Grab your underwater vacuum.

Underwater vacuums help to remove debris (waste products) from above the gravel. It collects the debris and pumps it out with the water.

Keep a bucket at a certain distance from the vacuum so water can easily flow.

Step 4

Insert your underwater vacuum at the top of the aquarium.
Using upward and downward movements, hold your vacuum while it is inside the water.
Once the water starts flowing from the aquarium to the bucket, move your vacuum on top of the gravel to remove the debris.

Insert your underwater vacuum at the top of the aquarium.

Using upward and downward movements, hold your vacuum while it is inside the water.

Once the water starts flowing from the aquarium to the bucket, move your vacuum on top of the gravel to remove the debris.

Step 5

Dispose of the collected water mixed with the debris.
If the water overflows, remove the vacuum from the aquarium. This will stop the flow of water.

Dispose of the collected water mixed with the debris.

If the water overflows, remove the vacuum from the aquarium. This will stop the flow of water.

Step 6

Grab the filter pipe and carefully remove it from the tank.

Grab the filter pipe and carefully remove it from the tank.

Step 7

Completely take out the filter to prepare for the cleaning process.

Completely take out the filter to prepare for the cleaning process.

Step 8

Rotate the pipe counter-clockwise to detach the pipe.
Do not apply too much force. A little twist will work perfectly.

Rotate the pipe counter-clockwise to detach the pipe.

Do not apply too much force. A little twist will work perfectly.

Step 9

Use a scrubber to remove stuck debris from the pipe and filter base.
A new toothbrush works as the ideal scrubber.
After scrubbing, wash thoroughly.
Scrub gently; too much pressure will break the base of the filter.

Use a scrubber to remove stuck debris from the pipe and filter base.

A new toothbrush works as the ideal scrubber.

After scrubbing, wash thoroughly.

Scrub gently; too much pressure will break the base of the filter.

Step 10

Reassemble the filter by inserting the pipe in the lock and rotating it clockwise.
Place the filter back in the aquarium.
Make sure to cover it with the gravel as shown in Step 1.

Reassemble the filter by inserting the pipe in the lock and rotating it clockwise.

Place the filter back in the aquarium.

Make sure to cover it with the gravel as shown in Step 1.

The filter is now cleaned and reassembled in the aquarium and ready for normal use. We recommend cleaning the filter once every month (four weeks) to maintain a desired living condition for your fish.

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                                      with 2 other contributors

                    Aman Lama Thokkar

Member since: 10/05/2021

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                       University of North Texas, Team 1-10, Raign Fall 2021                        

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