Regular Member Anic Posted October 16, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2005 I've been re-using my filter pads because, being a teenager, I don't have much $. I clean the poo and yuck out and run the pad under SCALDING water for awhile (7 min/ filter). Would they still be safe to use? I've been doing this for a while and it doesn't seem to bother the fish any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member LaurieP Posted October 16, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2005 Anic I assume that you are rinsing them with tap water? While rinsing them is ok to do, you want to use tank water not tap. The tap can kill the beneficial bacteria and you don't want that. Re using them is ok. What I do is rinse them in the tank water I have just removed and then replace the filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jeana727 Posted October 16, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2005 I run 2 filters sooooo every once in awhile during my weekly 30% water change I throughly rinse one filter. Sometimes I even completely rinse out the whole filter itself. That way I have one filter still packed full of bio-bugs & gunk. I even "make" my own filter cartridges. I have a carton of aquarium charcoal, a roll of mesh stuff & I whip 'em up whenever I need one. Sometimes all I have to do is pull open a corner, dump out the old charcoal and re-glue that corner. You can save $$$ by do-it-yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member svendenhowser Posted October 17, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 17, 2005 Your killing all the biobugs by washing it under really hot water. Just rinse it as other people have said, in the tank water you take out to do water changes You dont want to kill everything, just take away the bulk of the crap that gets stuck in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Anic Posted October 17, 2005 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 17, 2005 I only clean the filter pad, not the bio-filter. I never take the bio-filter out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member LaurieP Posted October 18, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 18, 2005 Right, but you are still killing the bio bugs on the filter, not to mention if you don't use a dechlorinator after doing so you are adding bad stuff to the tank from the tap. It is just best to rinse from tank water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member magickzzl Posted October 18, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 18, 2005 Right, but you are still killing the bio bugs on the filter, not to mention if you don't use a dechlorinator after doing so you are adding bad stuff to the tank from the tap. It is just best to rinse from tank water. 413334[/snapback] whats the difference between rinsing under hot water and chucking the whole pad and replacing it, bio bug wise guys? I use hot water.. loosenes the grime... lol! never ever rinse the bio_______ (sponge, blocks, wheel, squirrel) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member gialeigh Posted October 18, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted October 18, 2005 The filter has bacteria in it too. That is why. You rinse it under hot water and you kill the bactera. You replace it and of course you have to rebuild your bacteria on that surface all over again. I never dispose of my filter. I just rinse it out in tank water and pop it back in. I dont want to risk having my tank cycle all over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Anic Posted October 19, 2005 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 19, 2005 I don't have city water. We get our water from our pond, so there are no chemicals in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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