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Hi There,
I have just purchased a Rena XP-2 filter for my
75g tank, and want to move the overworked Fluval 204 to
my 25g tank.
However, I have had camallanus worms recently in the 75g tank, and am concerned some may be in the filter. (Just started treatment for the worms yesterday).
What would be the best way to clean the filter without preferably discarding all the filter media - as much of it was new recently.
I could replace the floss and peat granular entirely, but dont want to toss out my sponges, they are new.
How should I go about cleaning it, what would I use?
I have aquarium salt on hand, bleach, and many meds, including pure crystalline metronidazole.
I have also heard camallanus worms dont last long out of water - what If I were to rinse everything, dry everything out, rinse well, then dry aagain? Would that work?
Or should I super salt everything? Or dose Metro super strong right into a filter full of water with all the media.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, would like to transfer the filter ASAP as both the HOB filters on my 25g have kicked the bucket and now its only being filter for a week with a single sponge filter.


Last edited by So_Very_Sneaky at 15-Jan-2006 04:54

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Hi,
Personally, I would use a solution of bleach and water, and sterilize the entire filter housing and pump assembly. I would also discard everything that was medium
(floss, charcoal, etc.)

I don't know enough about that specific pest to know if
it could also still be living in the substrate or not,
but if there were the least doubt about the filter I'd
be sure it was CLEAN before I moved it.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I also would toss every bit of filtration material out if you leave just one nastie behind the trouble will start over again.

I am not too sure how bleach would effect any working parts of your filter "Impellar" etc. I would set up a container and let it run with what ever solution you decide to use.
There are some liquids that can be bought for sterlizing house tap filter containers, also a similar product used for babie's bottles.

After running this for several days I would do it again using clean tap water to flush out all the cleaning products you used.

I your case it is a matter of cut your losses and start again and be 110% on the safe side.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
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Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I agree that you should "sterilize" your filter and discard any potentially contaminated media. Use bleach as part of a solution that is 1 part bleach and 19 parts water.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Thanks everyone. That is what I am going to do.
I was hoping not to have to buy new media, as money
is super tight right now, espescially after buying a new filter.
But ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
I will run it through with a light bleach solution,
and then dechlor.
Thanks everyone!


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Just another thought, if anyone is still checking this thread - would I be able to boil the ceramic bio balls?
Would that kill any worms on them?
Thanks!


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You could boil them if they are ceramic but why bother again is it worth the risk. Surely the replacement is not going to cost very much is it?

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop &amp; Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

So I ended up junking everything,
rinsed and scrubbed the filter, then
ran 1part bleach and 20 parts water through it.
Rinsed well, then ran through water and dechlor
till the smell was gone.
Put it on the 25g tank and it has cleaned it up
amazingly.
Forgot how well a filter worked when it was
all new media!
Thanks for the advice everyone!
Cost me 65$ to replace all the media - almost
what I paid for the filter in the first place


Last edited by So_Very_Sneaky at 21-Jan-2006 21:40

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Hi Sneaky,
That was probably for the best, we don't want those nasty worms coming back after all that. A clean filter does run really well, I replace the sponge in mine every 6 months or so and it's amazing how clean the water looks just by doing that! I replaced the bio-max when I seeded the smaller tank but now I shouldn't have to do that again, I think it works similar to the bio-balls, replacing them was probably a good idea just to be safe.

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