rinsing filter media

Beloufish · 01/07/2010, 09:42 AM

Quick question...I just set up my tank and the water is clearing up nicely. If I wash my filter sponges, do I have to wash them in R/O water of is the sink ok? Seems like washing them in the sink will introduce 'bad' water into the system. I have plenty of extra R/O water on hand, so thought I would make sure!

thanks!

thegrun · 01/07/2010, 09:45 AM

The sink is fine, the amount of water you introduce in minimal and will have no effect on the tank. It is a good idea however to have extra filters and allow them to dry out between uses. This will prevent bacteria from establishing colonies on the media which product nitrates.

spw4949 · 01/07/2010, 11:37 AM

Agreed.....some people may disagree but IMO rinsing everything in RO is unnecessary......

pudelt32 · 01/07/2010, 01:50 PM

I agree. A lot of people freak out if you don't use RO water to clean all your equipment or filter media. I use regular old sink water and it seems to work just fine. I agree that you would have some back up filters so you don't put back any unnecessary bateria into your tank

Korrine · 01/07/2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pudelt32

I agree. A lot of people freak out if you don't use RO water to clean all your equipment or filter media. I use regular old sink water and it seems to work just fine. I agree that you would have some back up filters so you don't put back any unnecessary bateria into your tank

I don't think most fresh water bacteria can transfer sucessfully to saltwater and live?

I swish my things in the tank water I pulled off the tank from a water change. That way it gets the chunks or bits of gunk off but doesn't kill any good bacteria that has formed on them (the ones that process ammonia and nitrite).

Just my .02

Korrine · 01/07/2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

The sink is fine, the amount of water you introduce in minimal and will have no effect on the tank. It is a good idea however to have extra filters and allow them to dry out between uses. This will prevent bacteria from establishing colonies on the media which product nitrates.

I'm confused by this. The bacteria that would establish are the ones that process ammonia, nitrite. Why would you not want it? Nitrate is taken care of by water changes and any anerobic(or arobic or whatever, I can't remember the correct term

) pockets in your fish tank.

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 06:43 PM

If the tank needs the filter sponges for ammonia processing, I'd rinse them in saltwater. Otherwise, I just used tapwater and squeezed out as much gunk as I could. I had the filter sponges over powerhead input to keep anemones from being inhaled.

Such filter sponges can lead to a higher nitrate level in the water column, which is why I was happy to kill off as many bacteria as I could during cleaning. There's a lot of threads on this subject, if anyone wants to do some reading.

Korrine · 01/07/2010, 07:10 PM

But they won't if they are kept clean, correct? Isn't that where most people lack? They don't clean them regularly? It's when gunk gets attached to it and doesn't get removed is when they cause problems. It must be a different bacteria and not the good ones.

stubby 58 · 01/07/2010, 07:17 PM

I do 10% WC weekly and clean my sponge's in the used water from WC . I don't seem to have trouble with nitrate levels .

stubby

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 07:33 PM

Even if kept clean, such filters seem to cause a higher nitrate level, although keeping them clean can help with the problem.

01/07/2010, 09:42 AM	#1
Beloufish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 26	rinsing filter media Quick question...I just set up my tank and the water is clearing up nicely. If I wash my filter sponges, do I have to wash them in R/O water of is the sink ok? Seems like washing them in the sink will introduce 'bad' water into the system. I have plenty of extra R/O water on hand, so thought I would make sure! thanks!

01/07/2010, 11:37 AM	#3
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Agreed.....some people may disagree but IMO rinsing everything in RO is unnecessary...... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

01/07/2010, 06:43 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the tank needs the filter sponges for ammonia processing, I'd rinse them in saltwater. Otherwise, I just used tapwater and squeezed out as much gunk as I could. I had the filter sponges over powerhead input to keep anemones from being inhaled. Such filter sponges can lead to a higher nitrate level in the water column, which is why I was happy to kill off as many bacteria as I could during cleaning. There's a lot of threads on this subject, if anyone wants to do some reading. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/07/2010, 07:10 PM	#8
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	But they won't if they are kept clean, correct? Isn't that where most people lack? They don't clean them regularly? It's when gunk gets attached to it and doesn't get removed is when they cause problems. It must be a different bacteria and not the good ones. __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

01/07/2010, 07:33 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Even if kept clean, such filters seem to cause a higher nitrate level, although keeping them clean can help with the problem. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/07/2010, 09:45 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The sink is fine, the amount of water you introduce in minimal and will have no effect on the tank. It is a good idea however to have extra filters and allow them to dry out between uses. This will prevent bacteria from establishing colonies on the media which product nitrates.

01/07/2010, 01:50 PM	#4
pudelt32 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 34	I agree. A lot of people freak out if you don't use RO water to clean all your equipment or filter media. I use regular old sink water and it seems to work just fine. I agree that you would have some back up filters so you don't put back any unnecessary bateria into your tank

01/07/2010, 07:17 PM	#9
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	I do 10% WC weekly and clean my sponge's in the used water from WC . I don't seem to have trouble with nitrate levels . stubby