Help! Filter Media

[Keithoms]

Cleaning the tank and rate of flow is pretty bad, kinda clogged. Washing out the media doesnt really do much. Is putting in a new media ok? Its been floating in tank for 2-3 wks. Will my bacteria be ok?

 

[shelaghfishface]

hi Keith, what filter is it?

 

[nosoup4you]

Have you tried removing the impeller and 'de-gunking' it?

 

[chesterscot]

you could always cut your old sponge in half and add half the new one this will help to seed the new sponge then after a while throw the old half away and add the new half if you get what i mean lol
regards scot

 

[Keithoms]

Its one of the Tetratec hanging ones. It doesnt have sponge.

 

[shelaghfishface]

never heard of those ,sorry i cant help, but someone will

 

[drobbyb]

If you rinsed out the filter insert with tank water and are still experienceing low flow the impeller must be clogged as well. I have one of those tetra hanging filters and a quick rinse in tank water does the trick.

 

[Keithoms]

When i take out the media it runs fine.

 

[drobbyb]

Then you haven't rinsed it well enough!

 

[Keithoms]

lol, well it is full of pebbles that i used to seed the bacteria in the first place, are these OK to be taken out?

 

[OldMan47]

It sounds like it is time to remove the pebbles. They have served their purpose. If you still can't get flow through the filter cartridge, rinse it more thoroughly. I give mine a good squeezing when I clean it. I just don't use tap water, because I want the bacteria to live through the cleaning process. Anything short of actually scrubbing the old cartridge will leave most of your bacteria intact.