Decision essentials
Key points
Intake tubes foul too.
Whole-cartridge swaps remove biofilm.
Restart testing completes service.
Filtration
Separate permanent and consumable
Discard collapsed floss, rinse foam and preserve biological media. Clean spillway and box without detergent.
Brush the full intake bore and livestock guard.
Filtration
Test a realistic restart
Fill if required and connect, confirming continuous return and normal sound.
Cycle power once during commissioning to prove recovery.
From evidence to action
Decision matrix
| Situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfall weak | Clean intake and impeller | Hidden restrictions |
| Only disposable cartridge | Add permanent media | Retains biofilm |
| No self-start | Document priming | Prevents dry operation |
Check the result
After the adjustment, measure flow under the same conditions and check noise, leaks, waste accumulation and circulation. Record the result; if performance drops again, locate the restriction before changing another part of the system. For “Clean a HOB without making cartridge replacement the whole method”, use restart testing completes service as the final article-specific check.
Evidence
Sources and scope
Sources include institutions, technical studies and manufacturers. Chezur separates established mechanisms from editorial decisions for home aquariums.