Cleaning Filter Media

[rewlyn]

to sort out confusion and help newbies

 

[-SPB-]

I clean filter media in tank water, but as long as it's in dechlorinated water, it should be OK.

Edit: As saz326 says in the post below, don't squeeze or rub, just a quick dip really.

 

[saz326]

use water during a water change - let the siphoned tank water run over the filter media to wash away loose and built up debris. I dont squeeze or rub. just let the water pressure do the work.

 

[Curiosity101]

I'd have said no unless the filter is actually being impaired by debris etc within it. If you're talking, routine cleaning...there's no need unless it's actually clogged.

 

[saz326]

I'd have said no unless the filter is actually being impaired by debris etc within it. If you're talking, routine cleaning...there's no need unless it's actually clogged.

Thats a good point... what sort of cleaning are we talking about? 6 monthly maintainance or a weekly job?

I do mine when the water output starts to drop down. (clean impeller and clean o-rings too.).

 

[rewlyn]

if you didnt see the question its in a fish-in cycle

 

[K-Holed]

For the time a fish in cycle takes, I can't see that I'd clean the filter media unless it was clogged. So I voted no.

 

[BenPursglove]

Only clean filter media if blocked or flow through it slows too much - period.

 

[snowflake311]

What do you mean by clean. with any cycle you should not mess with your filter. Let it grown and become fully established before you even touch the filter. Whay would you need to clean it? Its a new filter right? how messy is it going to get in a month.

 

[K-Holed]

What do you mean by clean. with any cycle you should not mess with your filter. Let it grown and become fully established before you even touch the filter. Whay would you need to clean it? Its a new filter right? how messy is it going to get in a month.

Exactly. But if for some reason (and lord knows how) the filter did become blocked with debris, then you'd have to swish the offending media out in a little tank water. But as stated, in the time it takes for the cycle to complete, this would be a highly unusual occurance.

 

[OldMan47]

If a filter needs to be cleaned because it is becoming plugged, then it needs to be cleaned. An excuse that the tank is being cycled is just that, an excuse. Filters are not harmed by being clean enough to pass water through the media. A filter that is plugged and not flowing water well has no media in good oxygenated water flow that can build up the bacterial colony. The slight losses from cleaning, when compared to the stall at bacterial development due to failing flows, is not significant. The failure to develop bacteria due to loss of flow can be very significant.

 

[pippoodle]

i'm totally with oldman on this one a better flow is the way to go , if the flow slows down wether you're in a cycle or not you should always rinse the filter ------ in tank water of course ----- and improve the flow again
The bacteria colony can only be improved by cleaning the filter ---- i would say it's better than stopping the colony growing

my vote on yes

 

[greenscooby]

Once again, totally agree with oldman47, just wish i could get in here first,

 

[backtotropical]

I have voted 'no'.

As others have said, filter media has no reason to be cleaned unless it is becoming clogged. There is no reason to clean it for the sake of cleaning it. This applies whether cycling or not, however is especially important when cycling as the bacteria colony is generally not very robust at this point, and the bacteria loss from cleaning can be quite significant. This is quite contrary to cleaning filter media from say a 6 month old filter, where bacteria loss would be minimal.

So, yes you can clean it, but I wouldn't unless absolutely necessary.

Cheers

BTT

 

[rewlyn]

this poll is mainly to help newbies but on that note please dont stop



at the moment its very even so to help can we not agree with someones quote and then contridict it (pinpoodle)