Is it safe to clean anything on the filter when i do my wc, or intake its self besides replacing the pads? jsut wondering if claning the intake eventually will get rid of good bacteria ?
Filter intake
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The more often you clean your mech, the stronger the colony in the biomedia will get if conditions are favorable for growth there. If you give the colony in the mech pad long enough to establish itself on a consistent basis, then yes, you are removing a lot of bb with cleanings. But that's normal and a healthy tank can handle the microscopic mini-cycle that occurs after a proper routine cleaning.
so prty much clean the filter inside the tank water... like swosh it around? then put it back on and then finish the wc process? im doing 25% every week / week and a half in my 75g is that enough for jsut 2 sunnies in it
Easiest gauge for that is your nitrAtes. They should be under 20ppm for most captive fish, probably 10ppm for wild-caught adult fish being moved into aquarium life.
You'll rarely need to clean your biological media if your pre-filter/mechanical filtration is half-decent. But, yes, a quick slosh in old tank water is perfect for most bio-media. Just feed lightly for a few days to give recolonization a chance to take place.
You'll rarely need to clean your biological media if your pre-filter/mechanical filtration is half-decent. But, yes, a quick slosh in old tank water is perfect for most bio-media. Just feed lightly for a few days to give recolonization a chance to take place.
knifegill;4357564; said:
thanks for all your assistance, now you say pre filter you mean cycle? i have cycled my tank for a week and a half everything tested great. also does ammonia have to be at 0 or what the highest it can be and. when yo usay bio media you mean my filter packets or... sorry for questions just got into this hobbie kinda
First, read all the stickies about cycling. Those will answer most of your questions.
The nitrogen cycle and establishment of a becterial colony is what 'cycle' refers to. If your tank is cycled, ammonia is 0, nitrItes are 0 and nitrAtes are controlled by water changes or plants, fancy gadgets, etc. Water changes are your friend.
A prefilter is any stage that precedes another in the flow of water through a filtration system, but usually refers to mechanical filtration which is the removal of fine particulates in the water. Keeping these particles out of your biological chamber will ensure a great environment where your bacteria can do their job well.
Biological media is whatever the bacteria are growing on and is usually a combination of bio-balls, ceramic rings, even lava rock and legos may be used! The key is surface area. Options are almost unlimited, but usually include rough surfaces and small particles or fibers that will house bacteria pleasantly densely in three dimensions.
Filter cartridges are a combined effort at mechanical and chemical (charcoal) filtration. They clog easily and work best as purely mechanical filters because of this. But they will colonize and, if rinsed in old tank water regularly, make an acceptable place to grow your culture (the bacteria). Don't throw them away like the box says to. You need your bacteria and if you remove them, the ammonia will rise and could easily kill your fish.
The nitrogen cycle and establishment of a becterial colony is what 'cycle' refers to. If your tank is cycled, ammonia is 0, nitrItes are 0 and nitrAtes are controlled by water changes or plants, fancy gadgets, etc. Water changes are your friend.
A prefilter is any stage that precedes another in the flow of water through a filtration system, but usually refers to mechanical filtration which is the removal of fine particulates in the water. Keeping these particles out of your biological chamber will ensure a great environment where your bacteria can do their job well.
Biological media is whatever the bacteria are growing on and is usually a combination of bio-balls, ceramic rings, even lava rock and legos may be used! The key is surface area. Options are almost unlimited, but usually include rough surfaces and small particles or fibers that will house bacteria pleasantly densely in three dimensions.
Filter cartridges are a combined effort at mechanical and chemical (charcoal) filtration. They clog easily and work best as purely mechanical filters because of this. But they will colonize and, if rinsed in old tank water regularly, make an acceptable place to grow your culture (the bacteria). Don't throw them away like the box says to. You need your bacteria and if you remove them, the ammonia will rise and could easily kill your fish.
knifegill;4357668; said:
so when cleanign the cartriges just swosh them in the tank also dont rinse completely? and you never replace them? or replace like one at a time?
Right. Either make them last forever (good luck) or replace them one at a time. You can also, after gently rinsing the old filter pad one last time, leave it in your actual tank so it can fade out slowly while bacteria colonize your new filter pad.
What I've done with mine is, once the blue pad is torn and old, wrap the plastic frame with nylon mesh (paint strainer bag) and fill the middle with a sponge. This new arrangement will far outlast the original and can be rinsed the same way.
What I've done with mine is, once the blue pad is torn and old, wrap the plastic frame with nylon mesh (paint strainer bag) and fill the middle with a sponge. This new arrangement will far outlast the original and can be rinsed the same way.