Cleaning Canister Filter Help!

[Wilky87]

Hey peeps, just did my weekly tank clean of water and gravel, decided to clean my filter. I washed the 3 sponges in the aquarium water i had taken out but I didnt know what to do with the bio-nood. so i just didnt bother cleaning it. I emptied the filter (loads of crap in the canister) then put the sponges and bio-nood back in, hoodked it back up and set it away. Did I do things correctly!?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, sounds right

Are they ceramic noodles? If so, you're right, they don't really need cleaning. I sometimes (maybe every six months or so) give them a quick swish in some old tank water to get rid of any mulm that might be clinging to them, but that's all they need.

 

[Wilky87]

Yeah thats right fluttermoth. So if i have cleanined the canister filter, where execally are these "Beneficial Bacteria?"

 

[fluttermoth]

They cling onto the media very strongly, so as long as you clean it in old tank or dechlorinated water (straight tap water kills them off) they'll still be there; you can't wash them off

 

[Wilky87]

Haha lol, im lauging because i expected to see some kind of "something" growing or clinging to the bio-nood lol but im now guessing its microscopic

 

[fluttermoth]

It is, yes; the most you'll see is a brownish stain, but not always that.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

best way to view them is look at brand new noodles there white, couple of months later they look brownish that the bacteria in their happy home. I swish my noodles every time a clean in tank water. You done all correct