Hi at what point does filter media particularly mechanical media like sponges and high density fibre and wool become a throw away? If a sponge is squeezed and water comes out pitch black, where it is SO FULL of gunk that 1x 5" sponge turns an entire 60g bathtub filled with water pitch black would you try and save it or throw it away? Do you ever open your canister to clean and decide everything is too dirty to reuse?
When media has served its usefulness?
- Thread starter mr.bigglesworth
- Start date
Mechanical filtration: I replace all my pillow stuffing once a month. Biological Filtration: I squeeze/rinse all my sponges once a month or 2 months / Ceramic rings, matrix never. Never been enough buildup to warrant it.
Once I forgot/ didn’t get around to cleaning out my rena canister and the sponges were awful. I took the sponges out and shot them w/ a hose to get all the gunk out. I can’t imagine cleaning it out this time any other way. The rest of the bio media never came into contact w/ fresh chlorine water so I doubt it hurt anything. The hose may be a better way to go than throwing them away if the media is too bad.
You should not be letting the sponge get to that point (slime layers build up allowing for anaerobic areas, shrinking pores and space where beneficial bacteria reside), it should be cleaned/squeezed out in water change water regularly. If that dirty sponge is in the filter, then the stuff in it, is in reality still in the tank.
One of the reasons fluidized beds are effective is that the media is constantly agitated, rinsed and oxygenated, so weakened bacteria are washed away leaving room for more robust beneficial bacteria
One of the reasons fluidized beds are effective is that the media is constantly agitated, rinsed and oxygenated, so weakened bacteria are washed away leaving room for more robust beneficial bacteria
I've had sponges shrink over time, once they dont fit snuggly I replace them to reduce bypass.
short answer, when you're tired of wringing it. Yeah you can wait until the media breaks down, but trully by that point pieces are coming off of it and that's likely going straight to live in your bio media increasing the amount of cleaning you have to do. Also after a certyain while they become stained and to me that's always bothersome as you keep rinsing well after you stopped seeing gunk come out of it thinking there's more to come out. But there isn't, the media is just stained and unless you're willing to risk your fish's well being by using harmful chemicals on it, its going to stay stained.
Now quality media will last a long time, but eventually mechanical media is going to go down. For me I replace it when I get tired of cleaning the same piece of media. I'm pretty economical, but I do have a point where enough is enough and I want a fresh one. lol
Now quality media will last a long time, but eventually mechanical media is going to go down. For me I replace it when I get tired of cleaning the same piece of media. I'm pretty economical, but I do have a point where enough is enough and I want a fresh one. lol