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	Filter maintainance
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	I currently want to rinse out my filter media and don't need to make a water change. Will dechlorinated tap water be fine?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
T/A Mega Fish Posts: 942 Kudos: 1796 Registered: 20-Feb-2004	As long as the temperature of the tap water is the same as your tanks water, that will be fine.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	A better option yet would be to fill a container of some sort up with tank water and rinse the media with the tank water. I believe that the chlorine in the tap water is not good for the bacteria.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	lil-fishy's got it. The best way to clean off the filter media, such as a sponge in a HOB like an aquaclear, is to rinse it in a small container of tank water. This way you don't kill off bacteria, which can lead to many problems. EDIT: yes my mistake, I meant tank NOT tap! So Sorry, not thinking straight. :%) [span class="edited"][Edited by ferretfanatic 2004-09-04 21:24][/span] -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	Don't you mean TANK water?? And the tap water would be treated for chlorine.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	yeah use the tank water it's even better than treated water. Just throw it out when your done fill the container back up and treat it for chlorine throw the clean water in the tank and your done.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	I know what your talking about but I was talking about when you don't need to make a water change but your filter needs a cleaning. I know you should time your filter cleanings with your water changes.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	ericm For many years I washed my back drop filter wool (4ft x 12ins x 4ins) in just hot water from the tap and we have extremly chlorinated water. But there was also of good bacteria in the base any way. I rinse my Eheim filter pads under the tap but I then place them in tank water. I also add 20ml of a Bio Booster to the canister. Depending on your total set up you could go through a Mini cycle every time you do that. I would strongly recommened using a Bio Booster (required measure) just to make sure and keep the good bacteria at a safe level. Back to your origional concern YES but be careful as I said you could have a mini cycle 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
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
jake Fish Addict Posts: 594 Kudos: 875 Votes: 2 Registered: 21-Mar-2004	I drain some tank water into a small, cheap bucket. I rinse out that tank's filter in it. I use a seperate bucket for each tank so if I have any soon-to-be problems in one tank, it won't spread to the others. I don't see the point in using chlorinated tap water and then using biological additives if you can prevent the death of the good bacteria in the first place. If you've cleaned most of the tank's filter media, adding biological additives sure wouldn't hurt, but it's best to protect the bacterial colony you already have.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
T/A Mega Fish Posts: 942 Kudos: 1796 Registered: 20-Feb-2004	Did everybody else miss the reason for this thread? ericm has posted twice, stating that he wants to clean his filter without doing a water change. Which means he won't be able to rinse it in tank water. That's why he is asking about rinsing in declorinated tap water.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	No I didn't miss the point of the original thread. It only takes about a quarter of a gallon of water to rinse off the filter pad. Pull a quarter gallon of water out. Put the filter pad in the water. Scrub pad vigorously. Replace pad in filter. Add a small amount (quarter gallon) of water back in tank. I personally don't consider that a water change. But I guess it depends on who you are. IMO that is the best way to do what Eric wants to do.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38


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