Problems After Water Change! What Is This?

[trikidy]

Basically i've had my tank maybe 6 weeks, ive done 2 water changes previously, once every two weeks. When i do it before i just took the pads out of my filter, fluval u2, rinsed them in the tank water and put it back.
This time i looked in where the filter pads were and there was like much, like little bits, so i took my whole filter out and rinsed it in the tank water. now ive put it back in and added the new water loads of bits have appeared!
What are these bits?
Should i not take the filter out when i rinse the pads?
Help please I'm worried for my fish



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[KittyKat]

They're probably just bits of old fish crap, the filter will get them within a day or two.. at least the stuff that comes out of my filter pipes looks like that!

Unless they are white and flakey, in which case they normally come off new plastic, they will go with time.

Neither one of those will harm your fish, but do indicate that you should clean more thoroughly when you do your regular maintenance.

 

[trikidy]

Its not new plastic.

The bits were originally inside the filter, like when i took the pads out to rinse and look where they were i could see these bits.

If so how can i get the bits out without releasing them into the tank? or should they stay?

confused.com

 

[Skins]

Its not new plastic.

The bits were originally inside the filter, like when i took the pads out to rinse and look where they were i could see these bits.

If so how can i get the bits out without releasing them into the tank? or should they stay?

confused.com

There is no harm in performing your filter maintnance within a bucket of tank water, this way you will not get any unwanted debri in the tank.

Keith.

 

[trikidy]

That might be a better idea, thank you!

 

[Skins]

That might be a better idea, thank you!

Your welcome, thats what i always do when performing filter maintnance, removing any unwanted debri will also help prevent your filter clogging up and effecting its flow.

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

+1 to above.

 

[trikidy]

What would i do without this forum...

 

[OldMan47]

I never remove pads from a filter that I want to clean. The whole filter goes into the water change bucket and gets a good cleaning. Then I put the filter back into the tank and add back the needed water. I have no idea whether or not there are ever "bits" in my filter because the water change bucket gets filthy with the dirt coming out of the filter media. While you have your filter apart, don't forget to clean the well that the impeller sits in. That is often the first place that dirt will restrict your filter's performance.