RINSING FILTERS..

[Tilster17]

hey all,

I have been reading about rinsing off the filters in old tank water and not under the tap. What I am wondering is when you do a water change you are keeping that water for later to rinse your filters? My wife wont be happy about that!! lol

thanks for any suggestions!!

Joe

 

[WILDER]

Yes you rinse filter parts in old tank water, clean the head and make sure that isn't gunked up so it runs at full working speed, rinse sponge slightly in old tank water not to much or you will end up with a mini cycle, which I have done before now.

 

[Bonnied2005]

you don't have to store old tank water. Simply do your water change as you normally would just prior to taking out the filter cartridge and swish your cartridge around in the water a bit to get all the external filtered stuff off of it... Then put the cartridge back and empty the bucket.....

Add water conditioner when every you add new water that has come straight from the tap. This will kill the chlorine and other additives that are in the tap water so that they don't in turn kill your good bacteria.

Hope that helps,
Bonnie

 

[Tilster17]

thanks Bonnied!!

My wife thanks you!! lol

Joe

 

[keane]

Hi all,

Sorry to jump on to this thread but....

all the talk is about rinsing the sponges in old tank water (which I am happy with) but i also have carbon and bio max in my fluval external filter.

Do these need to be rinsed as often as the sponge (not all at the same time i appreciate) or does the majority of the gunk end up on the sponge(s) at the top of the filter?

Obviously, from the above you will guess that my tank is new(ish) and I have not yet cleaned my filter, but it will be due some mini maintenance in the next couple of weeks or so early advices would be appreciated!!

cheers

tbr

 

[WILDER]

Floss needs rinsing once a week in old tank water, carbon should be removed and replaced with new every 4 to 6 weeks or the chemicals will leach back into the tank.

 

[sammydee]

Just out of interest how long will activated carbon last in storage before it doesn't work anymore?

 

[WILDER]

As long as it been kept sealed and in a cuboard it should be ok for a year or two i think, don't re use carbon once you have taken it from the tank throw it away.

 

[sammydee]

How does carbon actually work then... does it react with the chemicals in the water? Or does it absorb them somehow?

 

[WILDER]

I think it adsorbs them into the sponge, thats why you have to throw them away after a certain period so the chemicals it has drawn in don't leech back out into the tank, chemistry wasn't my thing.

 

[jflowers]

Activated carbon attracts and absorbs chemicals/tannins/odour for a short period of time 10 days - 6 weeks, different manufacturers say different things. Once it has had its fill it simply stops absorbing. There was a debate on here recently about wether it then leeches back into the water or just stops absorbing. IMO it just stops absorbing, but I say stick with the manufacturers instructions (except when they say replace the sponges every so often , just replace when they become out of shape). Lots of members will tell you that they NEVER use carbon unless trying to clear up medications that have been added to the tank.

Jon