filter coloration

[mikedel]

I set up a 10 gallon tank about 3 weeks ago. I went to look at my filter just now and it is really dark in color. Is this just the bacteria colony growing on the pad or does it mean my filter is dirty. I set my tap water to 78 degrees and rinsed it off, then set it in a small jar and filled it with water and added some declorinator to get rid of any chlorine that might have gotten trapped in the pad. Should I leave the pad or replace it? I have already replaced the carbon in it.

[thom336]

Firstly, in answer to your question, yes it was muck in the filter and not the bacteria colony (Im pretty sure you cant see the bacteria...but to tell truth its something I have never thought about).

And secondly, use water from your tank to clean your filter - not fresh tapwater. Its not a matter of chlorine getting trapped in the pad - its that the chlorine kills off the bacteria you want. So the bulk of damage would already be done before you try and remove the chlorine.

Hope this helps,
Thom.

[mikedel]

Well my rookie mistake proved fatal this evening. I went to do a water change and noticed that my rinsing the filter with tap water claimed the life of one of my pregent guppies. There goes the gene pool. I guess I will have to chalk this one up to experience. Lesson learned. The only thing I dont understand is if the tap water killed the bacteria on the filter wouldnt this be the samething as just replacing the filter all together?

[thom336]

Sorry to hear your loss.

In the sence of having to re-colonise the bacteria in your filter (through cycling), yes, it would be like replacing the filter pad - but carrying with it the disadvantages without the advantages of replacing a filter.

Thom.