Rinsing filters question

1172 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by brandon429, Nov 29, 2015

Kobey

Discussion Starter · #1 · Nov 27, 2015 (Edited)

OK so you pretty much read everywhere to rinse the things off in "used" tank water.

At first I just said ok...cause what do I know.

But now I'm wondering why exactly...I mean all the Beneficial Bacteria is "sticky" and water changes to not really impact it because the BBs are not in the water column. It all really gathers in the nooks and crannies like sponge filters because that's where the rest of the crap also collects.

And again I understand we want to wash off said crap without ruining the BB growing there...but if we are doing water changes among other to things help "freshen" the environment why would we not also wash the filters in that same treated water?

More I think about it the analogy I have is peeing on a dirty toilet bowl.

Ok maybe not the best analogy...but really...why use dirty water instead of clean treated to rinse sponge filters?

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Argus

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Joined May 22, 2013

584 Posts

#3 · Nov 27, 2015

WaterLife said:
The reason you don't want to wash biological media in tap water is because the chlorine in the tap water will kill the beneficial bacteria. You could use R/O water or new/clean treated (w/ dechlorinator) water.

Thermal shock could also be a consideration.

When cleaning a filter you mainly want to remove the solid waste. You are not trying to chemically clean it. So, dissolved chemicals in tank water are not an issue. Rinsing the sponges from a Fluval 206 in a container of old tank water turns the water opaque brown. So, yes, tank water is much cleaner than the filter.