Used Filter?

chigwellhammer · Jun 4, 2010

Ive got a filter that came with my tank i bought, It works fine 50w for my 60L but it is a bit grimey, Ive gave it a clean up with warm water and a cloth but still a bit manky. Reckon it will be okay to use? or should i buy a new one.

This is it, I know you cant really tell due to crappy mobile camera.

Thanks Jamie

JoshuaA · Jun 4, 2010

The grime is probably bits of decaying plants/fish poop and possibly bacterial colonies.

It should be ok to use but your best bet is really giving it a better scrub, you can usually dismantle your filters pretty well down to each individual part. Giving the media a good wash is probably a good idea, anything to make it easier for a new bacterial colony to cling on to it. Get a tooth brush and warm water nothing else and give it a good scrub whilst its submerged in warm water. Then run it in a bowl of water for about an hour, you might see a ton of small particles being jettisoned out from what you've scrubbed off! It will also show you if it works properly too.

I'd say it'd be good to go then :good:

chigwellhammer · Jun 4, 2010

Cheers matey

fishnovice · Jun 4, 2010

If the filter has been used till very recently, use tank water NOT tapwater to cleaen it.Otherwise the chlorine will kill all the good bacteria and you will have to cycle the tank. If you don't have enugh spare tankwater, add lots of dechlorinator to tap water

chigwellhammer · Jun 4, 2010

***** Surely shouldn't be like that?

JoshuaA · Jun 4, 2010

chigwellhammer said:
Surely shouldn't be like that?

sorry for take so long to reply. I guess my process for sorting this out will be...

1) Is it fully submerged?
2) Did I put it back together properly?
3) Is there any air trapped?
4) Did I clean it thoroughly (specifically the impeller)

for 3, turn your filter off and open the casing up then turn it up side down whilst sub merged if a load of water bubbles come out the chances are you might of got air bubbles stuck in the impeller chamber bit causing it to rattle whilst spinning. For 4 I would make sure you can strip it down to the most bare parts possible and then give it a good scrubbing.

I assume the filter hasn't been used for some time, it will probably be too late to do the bacterial thing anyway, also there may be some unforeseen circumstances he got rid of his tank for (Fish illnesses etc).

chigwellhammer · Jun 4, 2010

That's how i have got it set-up? is that correct? and the inside where you can take the lid off am i meant to feel that with water?

... I really am new to all this so sorry for nooby questions!

chigwellhammer · Jun 4, 2010

I feeled it up with water and it is now running fine

, But when i first poored water into it it poored aload of crap into it

, so will it get rid of all the bits? so far its just a tank with water nd filter, Just wanted to see how it all was etc

JoshuaA · Jun 4, 2010

chigwellhammer said:
I feeled it up with water and it is now running fine , But when i first poored water into it it poored aload of crap into it , so will it get rid of all the bits? so far its just a tank with water nd filter, Just wanted to see how it all was etc

So you did the put water in trick? Sometimes filters just don't do what you want em to do! I've found the few internal filters I've tried, go mental unless you put them together underwater! I imagine a lot of HOB filters prefer to start up wet rather than dry also.

Your filter should filter out any crap in the water. I'd say leave it running over night so it can pick up all the crap and then take the sponge or whatever it uses and squeeze it out.