Cleaning filter media

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Is it okay if I just Primed / dechlorinated some tap water and cleaned the sponges/media with the primed tap water? Thanks
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Yes, I have been cleaning bio media in this manner for many years.




Bacteria aren't as sensitive to chlorine as fish, particularly when the chlorine is at the level of city water, so they can withstand/survive a washing/cleaning.
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WRONG.

Chlorine is a disinfectant, and will most definitely kill bacteria upon contact. How much bio-bacteria killed will be dependent on both contact time, as well as the residual level of chlorine/chloramine in ones taps. The fact that this hasn't presented a problem for some folks simply means that their tap water contains very low levels of chlorine, the same reason how some people can get away with using little to no conditioner when performing water changes. IME in this hobby it is never a good idea to generalize about levels of disinfectant such as chlorine/chloramine as they can vary from 0.0 ppm to as high as 4.0+ ppm within the USA.
 
RD. said:
Chlorine is a disinfectant, and will most definitely kill bacteria upon contact. How much bio-bacteria killed will be dependent on both contact time, as well as the residual level of chlorine/chloramine in ones taps.
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I'm not disputing that chlorine isn't a disinfectant, but at the level used for most city tap water, its not a kill on contact concentration.....such as that used for public swimming pools. As I already stated in my first post, its about concentration level and exposure time.
I actually do have an idea on this subject since I've dwelt quite a bit on the microbiology subject during my college years.
 
I rinse all of my media under warm tap water at every cleaning. If you are skirting the edge of your bio filtration not being efficient enough I'd worry about that first. If cleaning one filter and possibly killing the bacteria in it is a concern then there isn't enough bio filtration to the tank.
 
The reality is that there is NEVER a one size fits all in these types of situations. I read your comment xraycer, it was bad advice. Plain and simple. Unless you are aware of the OP's set up, how well established it is, or isn't, water disinfectant type, and levels, etc-etc, telling anyone that they can clean their media under tap water is just not good advice. Obviously "some" bio bacteria is going to be killed - the how much is going to be killed might be ok for you, but not ok for the next person. No college degree required to understand that simple concept. Yes?

If cleaning one filter and possibly killing the bacteria in it is a concern then there isn't enough bio filtration to the tank.
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Really? And what is the disinfectant residual leaving your taps? Now maybe you can tell me the same about the OP's tap water? See how that works? Sometimes this ends up being apples to apples, and sometimes it's like comparing apples to pomegranate.

I have seen bio-filtration almost completely wiped out by being cleaned in chloramine treated tap water. This isn't something that I read in a book back in college.
 
RD. said:
The reality is that there is NEVER a one size fits all in these types of situations. I read your comment xraycer, it was bad advice. Plain and simple. Unless you are aware of the OP's set up, how well established it is, or isn't, water disinfectant type, and levels, etc-etc, telling anyone that they can clean their media under tap water is just not good advice. Obviously "some" bio bacteria is going to be killed - the how much is going to be killed might be ok for you, but not ok for the next person. No college degree required to understand that simple concept. Yes?



Really? And what is the disinfectant residual leaving your taps? Now maybe you can tell me the same about the OP's tap water? See how that works? Sometimes this ends up being apples to apples, and sometimes it's like comparing apples to pomegranate.

I have seen bio-filtration almost completely wiped out by being cleaned in chloramine treated tap water. This isn't something that I read in a book back in college.
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my apologies, I don't deal with chlorine in the tap and I should have taken that into account for others. again, my apologies. but regardless if OP does have that issue then a bucket of tap water with prime or safe would be just fine in my opinion.
 
RD. said:
The reality is that there is NEVER a one size fits all in these types of situations. I read your comment xraycer, it was bad advice. Plain and simple. Unless you are aware of the OP's set up, how well established it is, or isn't, water disinfectant type, and levels, etc-etc, telling anyone that they can clean their media under tap water is just not good advice. Obviously "some" bio bacteria is going to be killed - the how much is going to be killed might be ok for you, but not ok for the next person. No college degree required to understand that simple concept. Yes?
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If you reread my original post RD, I actually didn't give any advice, I just gave my opinion. No college degree needed for opinions either. Yes?
 
Whatever, opinion, advice, either way not very accurate given the circumstance - especially if one considers the fact that generally speaking the folks asking these questions are more than likely ignorant on the subject, hence the reason they are asking on a public forum.

IME over the years, most hobbyists don't know the disinfectant level in their tap water, many don't even know if their water is treated with chlorine, or chloramine. Then factor in the age/maturity of their set up, the size/capacity of their filtration media, and their various tank & tap water parameters - and for some people on this site generalizing can result in disaster. So considering all of the various different members world wide that we have here, and all of the various different water conditions, IMO it's always best to err on the side of caution when dealing with tap water.

Sorry if my comments came off reading harsh, they could have been worded more diplomatically.
 
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LOL, that was a good one Josh!
 
Thanks for all the feedback everyone!
RD. Don't lump me into the ignorant posters on here, haha!!! :)
I have always used tank water to clean filters. Cleaning the sponges in my Fx6's require a lot of water and it might be easier to fill a trash can with tap water, treat it and clean in more water volume. I will find out!!

RD. I got a question for you or anyone else who knows!
My tap water has a PH of 9.25, if you let water sit in a trashcan overnight it will settle and stay at 8.1.
To do a WC ive always filled up 2 brute trashcan, let it sit and used that water for a WC the next day. I need to get rid of doing this and just fill the tap water directly into the tank. Say I do a 50% WC. My PH in my tank will change temporary to 8.7 until it settles the next day at 8.1. Is it safe to do this every week or will this stress my fish too much?
Thanks!
 
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