cleaning filter media

[terrypin]

What is your opinion to the benefits of washing filter sponges and media in old tank water as compared to doing this in clean de-chlorinated/de-cloramined water.

 

[Metalhead88]

I guess it would be ok to use de chlorinated water but..... it's just easier to use tank water. Clean it with old tank water while you water change and you don't have to worry about wasting and dosing product.

 

[Colin_T]

Like Metalhead said, clean the filter media in old tank water and use dechlorinated water to refill the tank. There's no point dechlorinating water specifically to wash the media.

 

[itiwhetu]

clean in old tank water, plan to reduce the waste by about half of its volume

 

[P J]

The correct answer it don’t clean your filters unless clogging is preventing water flow. Then gently swish off only bits of plants leave the brown gunk in place this is the beneficial bacteria you need for healthy fish and water. Wait at least there months between any cleaning and only throw the filter if it is falling to bits. Never squeeze out sponge filter material you’ll destroy most of the bacteria. Firms that sell filters want to max out their profit by telling you to throw filter material away - don’t do that. PJ

 

[AbbeysDad]

In a relatively new aquarium, it is important to treat filter media carefully as much of the initial beneficial biology will undoubtedly reside there. So we ensure that we clean media in water that has no chlorine that would kill biology. So either used tank water or treated water to neutralize chlorine is fine. However, in an established tank (6 months or longer), in spite of popular internet belief, there is far more beneficial bacteria in the tank, especially the substrate. Far more than in any filter. (Bio-media's are rated for their theoretical surface area and there is far more surface in the substrate than in any filter).
So, in time, the bacteria in the filter media becomes less important and as Byron has done regularly, can even be cleaned in tap water. There are exceptions of course (like a bare bottom grow out tank that relies on a sponge filter) but these are somewhat rare. Then again. it's always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I always swish my media in old tank water. It makes no sense to make dechlorinated water and then pour it over media.

 

[Guyb93]

I use the water stored in the canister itself then refill the canister out of the tank

 

[Slaphppy7]

Old tank water, no need to waste conditioner.

 

[P J]

In a relatively new aquarium, it is important to treat filter media carefully as much of the initial beneficial biology will undoubtedly reside there. So we ensure that we clean media in water that has no chlorine that would kill biology. So either used tank water or treated water to neutralize chlorine is fine. However, in an established tank (6 months or longer), in spite of popular internet belief, there is far more beneficial bacteria in the tank, especially the substrate. Far more than in any filter. (Bio-media's are rated for their theoretical surface area and there is far more surface in the substrate than in any filter).
So, in time, the bacteria in the filter media becomes less important and as Byron has done regularly, can even be cleaned in tap water. There are exceptions of course (like a bare bottom grow out tank that relies on a sponge filter) but these are somewhat rare. Then again. it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Assuming you have an under gravel filter the substrate holds a lot of good bacteria, but there needs to be an oxygenated water flow for the filter to be effective - therefore a static substrate does not provide, and never will, be an effective biological filter, without a water flow through it. If there is a heavily planted tank it may be possible to eliminate a filter, see Diana Walstad for details. Otherwise it is entirely incorrect to run a stocked fish tank without filtration. PJ

 

[Slaphppy7]

The correct answer it don’t clean your filters unless clogging is preventing water flow. Then gently swish off only bits of plants leave the brown gunk in place this is the beneficial bacteria you need for healthy fish and water. Wait at least there months between any cleaning and only throw the filter if it is falling to bits. Never squeeze out sponge filter material you’ll destroy most of the bacteria. Firms that sell filters want to max out their profit by telling you to throw filter material away - don’t do that. PJ

I clean my filters once a month...while preserving the BB on my ceramic media in a bowl of old tank water. I clean them in hot tap water only. These are HOB style filters. If I DON'T clean them monthly, the motor particular brand I use may "gunk" up enough to keep running, but I learned that long ago, after months of not cleaning the filter's motor.

I stopped using the sponges that come with these filters long ago, they WILL clog up to the point of pushing the lid of the HOB up off of the filter itself...again, with the brand I use...and how I layered the media (sponge on bottom, flow is bottom to top).

In their place, during weekly WC's, I use a thin layer of poly batting (bottom) for mechanical filtration, and the rest of the HOB is filled with ceramic media. The poly batting is replaced every week during WC's with a fresh piece, and the ceramic media rinsed (and remains in) old tank water while the filter(s) is off.

I never have water quality issues, in these established tanks. Every tank is different, but that's what works for me filtration-wise...going on 9 years as a fishkeeper.

 

[Slaphppy7]

In a relatively new aquarium, it is important to treat filter media carefully as much of the initial beneficial biology will undoubtedly reside there. So we ensure that we clean media in water that has no chlorine that would kill biology. So either used tank water or treated water to neutralize chlorine is fine. However, in an established tank (6 months or longer), in spite of popular internet belief, there is far more beneficial bacteria in the tank, especially the substrate. Far more than in any filter. (Bio-media's are rated for their theoretical surface area and there is far more surface in the substrate than in any filter).
So, in time, the bacteria in the filter media becomes less important and as Byron has done regularly, can even be cleaned in tap water. There are exceptions of course (like a bare bottom grow out tank that relies on a sponge filter) but these are somewhat rare. Then again. it's always better to be safe than sorry.

@AbbeysDad ... See my reply to PJ above, after becoming a member here, I'm becoming interested in your and PJ's points of view, regarding filter BB colonization......or maybe we could start a new topic, instead of hijacking the OP's thread(?)

 

[seangee]

In a relatively new aquarium, it is important to treat filter media carefully as much of the initial beneficial biology will undoubtedly reside there. So we ensure that we clean media in water that has no chlorine that would kill biology. So either used tank water or treated water to neutralize chlorine is fine. However, in an established tank (6 months or longer), in spite of popular internet belief, there is far more beneficial bacteria in the tank, especially the substrate. Far more than in any filter. (Bio-media's are rated for their theoretical surface area and there is far more surface in the substrate than in any filter).
So, in time, the bacteria in the filter media becomes less important and as Byron has done regularly, can even be cleaned in tap water. There are exceptions of course (like a bare bottom grow out tank that relies on a sponge filter) but these are somewhat rare. Then again. it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I agree. I only have sponge in my filters. Probably get a storm of abuse for this but I rinse them under the tap weekly. I never see ammonia or nitrites in any of my tanks.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Assuming you have an under gravel filter the substrate holds a lot of good bacteria, but there needs to be an oxygenated water flow for the filter to be effective - therefore a static substrate does not provide, and never will, be an effective biological filter, without a water flow through it. If there is a heavily planted tank it may be possible to eliminate a filter, see Diana Walstad for details. Otherwise it is entirely incorrect to run a stocked fish tank without filtration. PJ

Just not so. beneficial biology is not free floating as it attaches to hardscape surface areas and there is not greater surface area than the substrate. I know, everyone's been conditioned to think that water flow (often fast water flow) is required, and/or BB only lives in filters, but that's just not so. Have you ever heard of an under gravel filter in nature?
There are many species of bacteria and creatures that live in the substrate including nitrosomonas and nitrospira.
I'm not saying that a filter is not beneficial, but in the established tank, they really primarily serve as mechanical filtration to remove particulates from the water.

The Very Best Aquarium Filter – MJV Aquatics

mjvaquatics.com

 

[itiwhetu]

This brings in the issue of sand in tanks. My point pf view is it is far to fine, you always need water flow through the substrate. Fine gravel is one thing sand is another.