Old gravel, filters...

[Kevin007]

I just thought of something. I have 2 filters and gravel in my basement that is unused. For the filters, after I took the tank down, i just gave it a rinse and threw out the media (one is a HOB, the other is a fluval4+) Would it be a problem if i try to use the filters again? I mean, what will happen if there is dead bacteria in there? Would it be flushed back into the main tank? Dead bacteria = problems. What about my old gravel? i gave it a rinse then dumped it in a bucket.

I will not be using these any time soon but I just want to know about the potential problems and how it should be done in the first place.

[cmartin]

I scrub down filters but I have given up on substrate - I just can't get it clean - so now it gets spread in my garden to help keep the weeds down (I have MTS and ''attract" lots of used tanks from time to time).

I had two large pails of the stuff and could not get the 'smell' out of it - so into the garden. Looks cool and does a great job.

[Rbishop]

Clean the filters in a mild bleach and water solution and buy new filter cartridges.

As for the gravel, same thing and then rinxe until the bleach smell is gone. No problems.