Cleaning Micron Cartridge...

[DeVitaf]

Hello all,

I managed to lose my manual for my HOT magnum 250 and forget the water/bleacvh mixture for cleaning the micron cartridge. I also can't remeber how long I am supposed to let it soak.

I couldn't find any info over at marineland's site.

If anybody knows and can post the instructions for cleaning the micron cartridge I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
-Fran

[Skittyfish]

I clean mine in a 4:1 ratio and let it soak overnight, rinse well and let it soak in water with extra dechlorinator in it for about an hour and then I dry it in a sunny window.

[MP]

I clean mine in undiluted Clorox. They're clean in a few hours, but I tend to keep them there for a a week or so (just because I'm too lazy to remove them earlier). The same solution can be reused a couple of times.

Cartridges take this treatment with no problems and last years.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by MP
I clean mine in undiluted Clorox. They're clean in a few hours, but I tend to keep them there for a a week or so (just because I'm too lazy to remove them earlier). The same solution can be reused a couple of times.

Cartridges take this treatment with no problems and last years. Wow! I thought 100% Clorox would be too strong.... :confused:

[MP]

Not for this application.

Clorox is a 5-6% solution of sodium hypochlorite. So, if these numbers are less frightening... ;)

[JSchmidt]

I did just as MP describes. I got a Rubbermaid drink pitcher (tall cylindrical pitcher) and filled it with bleach. Just drop in the cartridge and let it sit overnight or longer. The bleach can be used for quite a while that way.

Jim

[Hootchieman]

I found when I used a bleach solution that was too strong, that the filter media fibers broke down faster. This was primarily observed using the Diatom filter bag. I haven't had my HOT Magnum that long to see if it is a problem or not. Usually a 4 to 1 ratio for 24 hours seems to work well.

[somefinnfishy]

Full strenth is a waste.
A 8 to1 mix would work fine.I use 4to1 at work and no bleach at home. the filters do suffer fiber damage from the bleach.An un bleached filter will last much longer.I have two micron filters I install a clean one take the dirty one let it dry most the stuff flakes off when you roll it in your hands.Sometimes I toss the cartrage in a tank that has hungry scavengers in it the next morning the thing is clean:D I recycle everything.
BTW the generic brands have the least chance of haveing any added stuff like scents-perfumes.

[JSchmidt]

I used to run microns 24/7 in my african cichlid tanks until I got tired of swapping out filters every couple of days. I did that for about a year, soaking the microns in full strength bleach. My cartridges got sufficiently dirty that a day or two in the 4:1 water:bleach solution didn't cut it. I don't know if I reduced the lifespan of my microns by using full strength bleach, but I don't see much change in them after a year of doing so.

I expect that lighter-duty uses would require less strength in the bleach department.

Jim

[somefinnfishy]

Thats exacty what we mean buy saying they get damaged the fibers get (fluffed) thas why you have to change then out every other day.At my work the old been bleached diatom filter cartrages clog ten times faster than the new or never bleached ones.

[JSchmidt]

No, they needed to be changed every other day because the tanks were stocked with messy fish!:)

There was no decline in their ability to function. The filters worked the same regardless of whether they were new or not.

There may be some cumulative effect of strong bleaching, but I never saw it.

Jim

[DeVitaf]

Great, Thanks for the tips guys :).