FX5 gone nuclear

[yzf450motoxrider]

So apparently when i finished my water change i didn’t plug the FX5 in. So it sat there for 4 days until I discovered it. I checked ammonia and it was 0 so i let it sit for 2 more days. I finally decided to open it. It smelled horrible, so i cleaned everything, and it still smells bad. So I’m wondering can I plug it in or should I let everything dry out for a week or two and then hook it up?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Throw it in your shower, rinse it out with the hottest water you can, then let it dry for a day or two.

 

[Laticauda]

I would nuke it, if it smells bad. Bleach,rinse, rinse, rinse, air dry: the whole deal, but I'm really paranoid about that sort of thing, and it's probably not necessary.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I would nuke it, if it smells bad. Bleach,rinse, rinse, rinse, air dry: the whole deal, but I'm really paranoid about that sort of thing, and it's probably not necessary.

Probably not. If you're not cleaning to get rid of some sort of established disease in the filter from a tank, just make sure all the crud is out, air drying doesn't hurt.

 

[PennReels84]

charcoal will get the smell out load it with some and let it run

 

[aclockworkorange]

charcoal will get the smell out load it with some and let it run

Yeah, but then you still have a lot of crud, dead bacteria slime, sulphur (or whatever makes that horrible smell when you forget to turn a filter back on) if you don't clean it. Carbon is great for removing smells though.

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

so cleaned the filter again, and boiled the media. The filter still smells. charcoal wont remove whatever is causing the smell. but ill give it a try.

 

[benzjamin13]

If it's that bad, I would just replace everything.

 

[Morledzep]

air drying is one of the bestest ways of getting rid of smells biologic stuff that has gone bad.

i wouldn't put bleach on anything, but i would be very sure that everything i put out in the sun to dry was thoroughly dry, might take more than a couple days. when i need to clean out bio media is rinse it very well with nearly boiling water and then spread it on a sheet pan and put it on the back porch in the sun till it's completely dry. but i'm not usually in a hurry to do this, i don't usually disturb it until it gets annoying or in my way and then i bag it up and put it in the filter media box until i use it again.

 

[Burtess]

I wouldn't even bother air drying it.... really what is that going to do?
Just rinse the crap out of it and get her going again. Any anaerobic bacteria that were established will not flourish under aerobic conditions anyway so you really do not have anything to worry about.

Burt