Reviving a Canister Filter

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

ganja

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 15, 2008
12
0
1
Los Angeles California
Hello im trying to start up a new aquarium and i was wondering if theres anything i should do to my canister filter that has been in my garage. I just took it out and noticed the ceramic media and sponges. I began soaking the ceramic media and sponges in some water. Will this revive the beneficial bacteria on it? Also what else should i do to prepare my water for the new tank? I heard adding a few feeder fish will help the BB.
Any tips would help me out
 
how long was the filter in the garage?

No, you cannot revive the bacteria, it is best to bleach all of the media and sponges in a 1 part to 10 parts water for an hour or two, then rinse thoroughly and allow to dry for a day.

You should replace the o-rings of the canister filter to avoid a leak due to a dry-rotted seal.
 
Well after i released my turtle it was in my garage for 3 months. I inspected it and everything seems fine. I dont like using bleach cuz i heard it could be harmful. Should i just set everything up and start it?
 
Bleach won't hurt anything if you do a 1/10 ration of bleach to water. Just make sure you rinse good and then bake or let dry for a day or two. BB dies very fast without oxygen.
 
If you had a turtle in the tank before the media is probably not worth saving, if I were you I would just replace it. Once the media is dry for 3 months all BB would be dead. Don't cycle a tank with feeder fish, they are not strong enough to handle the cycle and are probably filled with disease.
 
Nothing living in there is worth saving
All you really need to do is clean everything, bleach is perfect for this as long as everything is rinsed properly and dried out afterwards, run it in a bucket and check for leaks, if your leak free your good to go and start to cycle it again. If you've got other tanks use tank waste water in said bucket and you'll be good to go once everything is tested.

I love setting up new tanks and cycling, just do the complete opposite of everything, never fill the new tank with tap water just use waste, it'll cycle in no time
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom