Have I Ruined My Filter?

[SarahMarsh]

I just completely accidentally washed my filter in tapwater.
I had just forgotten to add the tapsafe before opening it up.
 
Do you think I may have ruined my filter and will my fish survive?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Do you mean you washed or rinsed the filter media (sponge/floss) under the tap?
 
If so, should be fine, the bacteria are pretty resilient and the amount of chlorine/chloramine will not have had enough time to have any effect on the bacteria (remember, bacs are protectted by a biofilm).
 
You MAY get a slight spike but I would imagine you still not see any real effect of this.
 
However, if you cleaned the entire filter, media, casing, impeller, hose etc then you are more likely to see a spike but the bacteria inside the tank, over the substrate, wood, plants and decor etc will help  recolonise the bacteria again, may take a few days to get back to strength.
 
In either case, its worth watching closely your stocking over the next few days to see if any effects start to occur, i.e gasping, lethargy, erractic swimming, red gills and that sort of thing.

 

[Akasha72]

well there will be beneficial bacteria everywhere else in your tank - the substrate especially. What I would do is set everything going again and just monitor ammonia and nitrite for a few says. If you see anything of either (which I doubt you will) then do a water change. Better safe than sorry in my view

 

[SarahMarsh]

Thankyou,that's a relief. Ill keep an eye out.  They are due a water change tomorrow anyway.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Thankyou,that's a relief. Ill keep an eye out.  They are due a water change tomorrow anyway.

 
In that case, just change the water, don't do a gravel vac or clean too much of the tank. A light maintenace clean will suffice for now, then next week once everything is back to normal, do your normal wekkly maintenance stuff then.

 

[Akasha72]

agreed