Easy
Fish Fanatic
So some of you may have seen my thread journaling my adventures into fish less cycling. http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/399475-my-20g-setup/
I have one of these hang on the edge waterfall type filters(not sure the proper name) but its the very common type sold with low to mid end range aquariums here in the US. It has a single plastic intake about 10-12 " long. I also have a plant(again not sure of the name) that was dropping a lot of small lower leaves due to the light not penetrating to that particular part of the plant. These decaying leaves are similar to let's say a half inch long pine needle, and they are all flogged around the intake. Iam going to clear this obstruction tomorrow but I noticed that the decaying matter has left a sort of brown nasty film/slime in the intake. Looks ugly, I want to clean it. But if bacteria live mostly where there is oxygen and water flow, wouldn't this place harbor a lot of bacteria? I am alllllmoost done with this painstaking process of fish less cycling and I dont wanna stall or slow it down now by doing some random cleaning.
What are your thought? Is the decaying leaves that bad for the cycle? Is it worth risking the cycle even if it's a remote chance? Or should I just leave it?
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/399475-my-20g-setup/I have one of these hang on the edge waterfall type filters(not sure the proper name) but its the very common type sold with low to mid end range aquariums here in the US. It has a single plastic intake about 10-12 " long. I also have a plant(again not sure of the name) that was dropping a lot of small lower leaves due to the light not penetrating to that particular part of the plant. These decaying leaves are similar to let's say a half inch long pine needle, and they are all flogged around the intake. Iam going to clear this obstruction tomorrow but I noticed that the decaying matter has left a sort of brown nasty film/slime in the intake. Looks ugly, I want to clean it. But if bacteria live mostly where there is oxygen and water flow, wouldn't this place harbor a lot of bacteria? I am alllllmoost done with this painstaking process of fish less cycling and I dont wanna stall or slow it down now by doing some random cleaning.
What are your thought? Is the decaying leaves that bad for the cycle? Is it worth risking the cycle even if it's a remote chance? Or should I just leave it?
But - having just went through a fishless cycle I had some of the same problems. As long as it doesnt restrict the water flow I felt that leaving it alone was the best thing to do. I assumed it had some of the good stuff on it just as the filter sponge and media had. When I went double zeros, I did the 90% water change and at the same time sweeched the intake sponge off in the same tank water and lightly squeezed it out. I did this with the filter sponge as well. Been told that sponges etc will last a couple of hours outside without losing their bacteria - however I just let it sit in a small amount of the old tank water while I cleaned the tank and did the water change. Seemed to work, because after my water change and media cleaning, my double 0s were still there and close to 5ppm nitrates which is what your looking for. I added all my fish at one time too. Anyway - this is just my humble opinion for what its worth.
