cleaning filter?

[laurabb]

Our betta's tank has a Red Sea nano filter, and the inside walls of the filter are getting slimy with what I'm guessing is algae. Can I wipe down the insides of the filter, or will this screw up the bacteria? I won't do anything to the sponge, I just can't stand the slime on the walls of the filter.

 

[Notophthalmus]

Wiping down the walls won't hurt your bacteria. Use tank or dechlorinated water instead of tap, to be safe.

 

[Bk718]

the sponge is what contains the majority of the "good bacteria". You can clean the entire filter when ever. Also if the tank is mature you can clean the sponges without a problem either..

 

[laurabb]

Oh, good - thanks for the replies. I'm going to clean it right now because it's driving me nuts!

 

[Marinemom]

You can clean and rinse the filter without worrying if the bacteria will be affected. If you want to rinse out the sponge part of the filter, just remember to rise the sponge in tank water that has been removed during a water change so the good bacteria on the sponge remains in tact.

Marinemom

 

[oscaremmy]

Make sure you don't use any household sponge with 'microban' in it - antibacterial sponges will kill every one of your fish if used inside the tank. Use something that has no cleaner or detergent on it - if necessary buy a plain nylon scourer and rinse it well in tank water before putting it to use!

 

[echoofformless]

A tiny tank with just a betta is unlikely to go through a mini-cycle even if you were to mistakenly kill all of the bacteria in the filter. There probably is enough in the substrate and even the walls of the tank to keep everything okay.