I'm An Idiot

[KrystaK]

I was cleaning my 30 Gal just now, and I thought to myself, hey, it's been about four months since I changed my filter pad, I should put a new one it.
 
The last time I changed my filter pad, in early September, I just put a new one on with a few scraps of wool from my old one. This re-started my cycle and I lost 2 Juvi BNP, three Panda Cory's and a Platy. 
So needless to say when my cycle was complete again I didn't touch the pad for fear of starting it a second time. 
 
SO that was then and this is now, 4ish months later, I figure, well I'll just put a new pad in with the old one and just let it be for a month and then take the old one out. I opened the filter and was amazed it functioned at all. It's a Tetra Whisper EX45, and comes with a scrubbing system in it, I don't really think it;s good for anything, as it comes after the filter cartridge so it doesn't even catch the big particles, but anyways, I noticed it was filthy. So I Decided I would clean it. I took it out, and saw that my quick fix 4 months earlier (Which had been to take one of the used cartridges from my 20 gal and use that to help start the cycle. Well both cartridges were covered in thick brown/black slime from not being changed.)
So I freaked a little bit and took them out. I threw out the 20 gal cartridge and rinsed the scrubbing brushes. I put a new, rinsed filter cartridge in front of the old one it it's holder and put it all back in the filter. 
I finished my water change and turned on the filter and BAM! I swear half the contents of the old filter cartridge came spewing out of the filter into the tank water!!!
My substrate is covered in chunks of fish waste and the water is brown! (It was brown before, because of bog wood, but now it's brown with specks in it

 
So what do I do now? Fish waste everywhere. I think I'm just going to have to do another water change tonight or tomorrow and hopefully get out as much as I can.
The filter has picked up some of it's mess, and I hope it will get more as time goes by, but for now my tank looks like I haven't touched it in four months

 Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

 

[Baccus]

You could try doing a quick vac and partial water change but when the gunk from the filter ends up back in my tank I just leave the filter to deal with it. Usually the next day its all picked up again and my fish and shrimp have had a field day picking through the stuff.
I always figure the gunk is going to hold some of your filter bacteria and after rinsing the filter pads, the best way of rebooting the colony is via the gunk.

 

[emilythestrange]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/412261-the-lowest-point-of-my-5-year-fishkeeping-hobby/#entry3469955
 
That was totally what i did!!
 
I cleaned out my u3 and tried to get the impellor started again, all the muck came out through the pads and sunk to the sand!
 
The next morning some of it had gone (maybe cos the cories were kicking some back up) but i did have to siphon it up again...

 

[KrystaK]

I read your post, my BF was over last Friday watching TV while I cleaned all three of my tanks (30 Gal Community, 20 Gal Ram Tank and 5 Gal betta) He said that I really must like them to do so much work for them. And in truth, when they die it's a blow to me, and whenever I go to get a replacement,I I don't get the joy of it, I just feel like it's money out of my pocket. (I only enjoy my fish after they've passed my two week test ) 
 
But when I sit here typing and looking at my 30 Gal I do enjoy it.... Or would, if it weren't still brown and gunk stained  Though cleaning three different tanks definetly isn't fun  

 

[frapadoodle]

Okay, well first i'd watch for a mini cycle. Second I would replace the cartridge with sponge, ceramic and floss. It's what I did with a tetra whisper.
When restarting, put a net or unused hairnet, or a bit of unused pantyhose in front of the outflow to catch the big stuff.
P.s. when I read the title, I thought 'I don't remember starting a new thread.'

 

[KrystaK]

I was thinking about switching to something other than the pre-made cartridges, they don't really seem like they're exactly what is required, but I have no idea where to start with making my own set up - my next project I suppose  
 
That's a great idea with the pantyhose. I'll have to buy some next time I visit the dollar store  
 
hahaha I wasn't sure if idiot counted as an off limit word so I was waiting to get the MSG saying that I shouldn't post such language.. 

 

[frapadoodle]

For mine, just cut down some sponge, a bag of Aquaclear ceramic, and cheap floss. Sponge, can even be a new kitchen sponge, so long as there is no soap added. As to floss, you can use, toy/pillow stuffing from the craft store.
As for the mulm, (the crud that gets blown around the tank), there are still nutrients there. My corys go nuts when I let some escape.
It is also great for house and garden plants.