Cleaning filter media w/ treated tap water

[jennfier]

Is swishing filter media in dechlorinated tap water ok in not killing beneficial bacteria ? I use a Python and is trying not to mess w/ good old bucket; like just cleaning all the media at the end in the utility sink instead. Sometimes, I forget about the media until the Python has already drained the water I wanted to change. I've also swished it directly in the tank before and that was a mistake.

 

[kellymarie1081]

your best bet is before you start the water change to take some of the tank water and put it in a small bucket and clean it in there. even the dechlorinated tap water can affect the bacteria on your filter media. (i've done a lot of research on the subject, as i was a vicitm of misinformation during set up)

 

[Pallen81]

i would have to agree... I mean it's debatable, but using water from the tank is definitely your best bet. no problems with that. so I would go with what we know for sure is appropriate.

 

[kveeti]

I clean my filter & media (sponges) in treated tap water all the time. Old tank water has little to no nitrifying bacteria, it's firmly attached to objects. If treated tap water affected your bio filter, we'd have die off every time we did a water change, some of us do 50%.

 

[Star_Rider]

I clean my filter & media (sponges) in treated tap water all the time. Old tank water has little to no nitrifying bacteria, it's firmly attached to objects. If treated tap water affected your bio filter, we'd have die off every time we did a water change, some of us do 50%.

I do the same thing..I rinse the sponges in treated tap water..even if you used tank water you would be squeezing some of the bacteria from the filter when you rinsed it.

I believe the idea using tank water is the fact that it does not need treating and typically you could easily siphon some when doing water changes..but for me it's just as easy to use treated tap water.

 

[Pallen81]

just make sure its treated tap water. some people don't get the difference. :thm:

 

[wataugachicken]

also make sure it's not too hot or icy cold, another benefit of using tank water. hot can kill, cold can slow reproduction