Silly question about filter floss/batting

[ryansmith83]

On my larger tanks I am using wet dry filters. They have a tray on top for the floss/pads, then the compartment underneath is filled with plastic bioballs. When the floss gets nasty I usually rinse it during a water change until it's clean, but that takes forever.

I've never thought about it before, but can't I just throw this away and replace it every time? The bioballs should have more than enough beneficial bacteria on them to keep the tank cycled, not to mention the sand bed in the tank itself. Or is there a reason to keep rinsing the same pads/floss and only replacing them occasionally?

 

[calioutlaw1a]

It comes down to cost. If you aren't worried about money, then yes just throwing it away and replacing it is fast and easy. You are correct that there should not be any issues with beneficial bacteria.

 

[ryansmith83]

Thanks. I don't think I'd need to replace it all the time, just every few months. Or I could alternate -- put some in which would give me time to wash the other. Sometimes you just don't feel like washing that stuff out after a tank scrub, sand vac, water change, etc.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

filter floss are relatively cheap. I would just get new ones instead of trying to scrub the dirt out of one.

 

[Pharaoh]

I replace my filter floss every time. You can find it super cheap on Ebay by the roll.