cleaning filters

[leanne31]

Hi guys just a quick question can you let me know if you can clean out your sponges and canisters in aged water instead of tank water thanks

[Merrilyn]

Yes, certainly you can. It's just the chlorine that kills the bacteria in your filter. If the water is dechlorinated, it would be fine.

[leanne31]

Thanks Merrilyn I was just a little unsure but thats what I thought as well, i gotta a few babies off Karen today and didnt want to try it unless I was 100% sure

[premier]

leanne you make me jealous, say does karen have any babies for sale?, i'm looking to purchase 6 of an interesting colour, or will she swap for a broken beta video recorder per chance?

[leanne31]

Shes got quite a few red turk X babies that are about a month old which would be ready in a month or two and shes got some golden snakeskin babies at the moment as well and I also think she said yesterday she was going to sell off some of her other fish to make room for some more babies as shes just got another couple of confirmed pairs.

[premier]

thanks for your reply am thinking of those golden snakeskins......

[marg]

One of the drawbacks of living in Country NSW - no breeders nearby :evil: . Local Fish Shops have nothing in stock (and even if they did, they are severely Overpriced, 'cause they know that they are the only source).

[gotti]

You can wash media right under the tap. As soon as it is placed back in the tank its accumulates just as much bacteria

[Proteus]

You can wash media right under the tap. As soon as it is placed back in the tank its accumulates just as much bacteria

This is strongly discouraged.

Contact with Chlorine kiils the active bacteria which assists in the nitrification cycle of the tank. 90%+ of deaths and issues in the tank I hear of daily are due to people washing filter media under the tap.

[Del]

"Never turn off the filter for more than a half hour, as the bacteria in the filter will die if their oxygen supply is cut off, and their remains will pollute the aquarium with hydrogen sulfide when the filter is turned back on...remember that critical bacteria are colonised on the medium, and don't clean, rinse or otherwise disturb the biological medium"

(biological medium = small ceramic tubes often called "noodles" and inert plastic devices called "bioballs" or "biospheres"?

quote from "DISUS FISH...a complete pet owner's manual" produced by Barron's

I believe this to be true now, as I am sure this is how my last discus, rummynose, tetras, etc died :oops: