Cleaning the foam filters is an important part of maintaining your lobster tank
At the bottom of each stack in a Lobster Pod there are two layers of foam which provide mechanical filtration. They trap muck and debris from the water including shellfish waste, pieces of bands, silt and other particles.
The foams also provide biological filtration as beneficial bacteria live within them. This means it’s important to think about how you clean them rather than simply trying to get them as clean as possible.
In the short video above our marine biologist Laura shows you how to clean and replace the foam filters in a Lobster Pod.
What do the foam filters in a lobster tank do?
The foam filters trap solid waste and debris as the water passes through them.
There are two different grades of foam. The coarser foam catches larger particles first while the finer foam underneath traps smaller particles as the water passes down through the filter.
The foams also provide a home for beneficial bacteria which form part of the biological filtration in your lobster holding system.
How do you clean foam filters in a lobster tank?
We normally clean the foam filters by giving them a good rinse, or as Laura describes it in the video, a skoosh in clean seawater.
You don’t need to get them spotlessly clean. Give them a rinse and squeeze out the worst of the muck so water can continue to pass through them.
Why should you clean foam filters in seawater?
We recommend cleaning the foams in clean seawater because they contain beneficial bacteria which form part of your biological filtration.
Rinsing them thoroughly under tap water can kill off these bacteria. The foams are robust enough to be rinsed under the tap or even jet washed if they really need it but be aware that you’ll then need to rebuild the beneficial bacteria on them.
For normal cleaning a rinse in clean seawater is usually all they need.
Which way round do the foam filters go?
The two foams have different pore sizes which allow them to trap different sizes of debris.
When you put them back into your Lobster Pod the finer foam goes in first at the bottom and the coarser foam goes on top.
They should be a fairly snug fit which helps prevent them floating if the water level in the sump rises.
How often do lobster tank foam filters need replacing?
The foam filters are fairly robust and don’t need replacing every time they become dirty.
We find most customers replace their foams after around three to five years although this will depend on their condition and how the system is being used.
Regular cleaning also gives you a chance to check their condition and decide when they’re ready to be replaced.
What happens if the foam filters become blocked?
You don’t need to worry about getting the foams overly clean but you don’t want them to become completely blocked.
The Lobster Pod has been designed so that if the foams do block the water can overflow the filter and continue back to the pumps. This means the pumps won’t run dry if the foams become clogged.
The foams should still be cleaned so they can continue doing their job properly.
Need help maintaining your Lobster Pod?
Todd Fish Tech has been designing and manufacturing live shellfish holding systems in the UK since 1998.
If you’re an existing Todd Fish Tech customer and need advice about maintaining your system or replacement filter foams please get in touch. If you’re considering lobster tanks for your business we’d be happy to help you work out the right setup.
Last updated September 2026
