How to Clean a Tetra Whisper Power Filter

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Confirm the Whisper model and filter layout

Read the label and manual to distinguish a standard Whisper, EX or IQ unit. Note the Bio-Bag size, Bio-Foam grid, intake connections and pump access. Do not assume all cartridges release from the same side or that an EX Timestrip belongs in water. Obtain any scheduled replacement before stopping filtration.

Step 2: Save aquarium water for biological media

During a partial water change, collect tank water in an aquarium-only bucket. This is the rinse water for reusable biological surfaces. Prepare replacement water with conditioner and correct temperature. Never place filter media in a sink coated with household cleaner or let it sit dry while the pump is serviced.

Step 3: Unplug and lift out removable media

Disconnect the filter with dry hands and position the cord safely. Remove the lid and lift the Bio-Bag, Bio-Foam or other stages according to the model diagram. Keep reusable biological pieces submerged or damp in tank water. Let disposable media drain without squeezing dirty water back over the aquarium rim.

Step 4: Decide what to rinse and what to replace

Replace a Bio-Bag when its schedule or physical condition requires it, not merely because the pump is being cleaned. Swish reusable biological foam gently in removed aquarium water. Avoid replacing the cartridge and aggressively cleaning all biological surfaces at the same time, which can reduce the system's waste-processing capacity.

Step 5: Brush the housing and intake tube

Use a filter brush to clear algae and sludge from the intake, strainer, reservoir and spillway. Work without soap, bleach or household disinfectant. Rinse removable non-biological plastic with dechlorinated water. Check for a cracked intake, hardened seal or warped cover that cleaning cannot correct.

Step 6: Remove the magnetic impeller assembly

Follow the exact model's access sequence and take the magnetic impeller out of the pump. Remove rubber end caps only when the instructions show them as removable and keep them in order. Do not pry with metal or pull on delicate blades. Brush loose slime before treating mineral scale.

Step 7: Use Tetra's vinegar soak on the impeller

Tetra advises soaking the magnetic impeller assembly in white vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes to loosen fish waste and mineral deposits. Keep biological media and the filter housing out of that container unless the model instructions say otherwise. Do not mix vinegar with bleach or another cleaner, and do not leave parts indefinitely.

Step 8: Brush and rinse the impeller completely

After soaking, use a soft brush on the magnet, blades, shaft and end-cap areas. Clean the empty impeller well with a suitable brush. Rinse every treated part thoroughly with clean water until no vinegar odor remains. The pump should not return acid residue to the aquarium.

Step 9: Reassemble in the original flow order

Seat the impeller and end caps without force and close its cover. Return the intake, Bio-Foam, Bio-Bag and any model-specific stages to their documented positions. Fill or prime the reservoir if required. Hang the filter level, set the flow control correctly and establish a drip loop below the outlet.

Step 10: Restart and observe the filter

Plug in and watch for prompt water movement. A brief air sound can occur during priming, but persistent grinding, no flow or an overheating motor requires immediate shutdown. Verify water passes through rather than around the cartridge. Monitor aquarium water after major media replacement and never run the pump without water.