Sponge Filter For Hospital Tank

[celaeno]

i have a question about a sponge filter i got for my hospital tank. i understand that it should be placed in the main tank when the hospital tank is not in use, so that the sponge filter can be transferred there when the need arises.

however, after the treatment finishes and the sick fish is healed, how would i go about cleaning the sponge filter to make sure that the bad bacteria isn't still on the sponge somewhere when i put the filter back into the main tank?

or will the meds have killed all or most of the bad bacteria, enough that it would be safe to just plop the sponge filter back into the main tank?

 

[SJ2K]

Personly id take it out and clean it with a bleach solution, rinse it very well for a long period of time, leave it to air dry then put back into the main tank to once again build up some beneficial bacteria. Some people will just trust its not infected and put it straight back in, choice is yours.

 

[OldMan47]

Nothing from a hospital tank will go back into my main tank without being thoroughly disinfected. It is just not worth the risk. If you keep your fish under good water condtions, you will seldom have a need for the hospital tank so I would definitely not try to save a cycled filter's baceria for later. There should be plenty of time before it is needed again to fully cycle a brand new filter from scratch.