rinsing filter Media

**gronlaura** · 01-18-2013, 02:04 AM

Can I rinse my bio media and sponge from my AC 110 in RO water or does it have to be used tank water?

**madagascariensis** · 01-18-2013, 02:17 AM

as long as it is not chlorinated any water should be fine. however, the point of rinsing it in old tank water is this: why waste expensive RO water or clean tap water for rinsing a filter sponge and throwing the water out? old tank water is going to be thrown out anyways and the clean RO or tap water can be used for your tank.

**korith** · 01-18-2013, 02:19 AM

Any sort of dechlorinated water is fine. You don't want to use real hot water either, just room temperature. The idea is to clean the filter but not kill the beneficial bacteria in it. It is possible to clean the media too well and kill off the bacteria.

**Goes to 11!** · 01-18-2013, 02:33 AM

I rinse my sponges in warm tap water, Nothing else gets them clean and I am not concerned about the death of any incidental BB on them because the Bio-edia carries that load. The sponge is there for mechanical filtration

I then dunk them in declorinated water to insure there are no Chloramines. The biomedia [ceramics] I rinse in old tank water as mentioned.

Here's another recent thread on this topic.

**gronlaura** · 01-18-2013, 04:18 AM

thank you for your replies. I adjusted my aquascape a bit and noticed I had reduced flow in 1 of my 2 filters. figured it had gotten some sand in it from the substrate. I gently rinsed the bio media in the RO water and squeezed all the junk out of the sponge. nice flow now. I wasn't ready for a water change so I used a bit of my RO Water. will clean the other filter in a couple weeks.

**korith** · 01-18-2013, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by gronlaura

thank you for your replies. I adjusted my aquascape a bit and noticed I had reduced flow in 1 of my 2 filters. figured it had gotten some sand in it from the substrate. I gently rinsed the bio media in the RO water and squeezed all the junk out of the sponge. nice flow now. I wasn't ready for a water change so I used a bit of my RO Water. will clean the other filter in a couple weeks.

Hmm you mentioned sand. You should check to see if there is any sand in the actual filter. Can rinse that out too. The part where the impeller goes, sometimes debris and crud can get stuck in there.

**imma24** · 01-18-2013, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by korith

Hmm you mentioned sand. You should check to see if there is any sand in the actual filter. Can rinse that out too. The part where the impeller goes, sometimes debris and crud can get stuck in there.

+1 - you never know where things will end up in a filter - just to make sure you're thorough.

**gronlaura** · 01-18-2013, 02:24 PM

I did rinse out the entire filter housing till it was clean, but did not remove the motor. There was a bunch of gunk below the media basket and the sponge was very dirty. Where the impeller is located and the impeller itself looked clean.

Thanks for the suggestions.

**icefreeze57** · 01-18-2013, 02:51 PM

When I wash, I do it in the fish water I am changing.

**Cliff** · 01-18-2013, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by gronlaura

I did rinse out the entire filter housing till it was clean, but did not remove the motor. There was a bunch of gunk below the media basket and the sponge was very dirty. Where the impeller is located and the impeller itself looked clean.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I would still suggest removing the motor and taking out the impeller to allow both to be cleaned about twice or 3 times a year. You might be shocked at what you can find in there

It might be worth the effort the next time you have to clean your filter