Boy do I feel dumb

[Terri9967]

Even though I read and read and read on here and I know I have read that when cleaning your filter you are NOT to use tap water to clean it......Me being well.........ME did my normal water change and cleaned the bottom of my tank placing all the hidey things and plants in a bucket of tank water was not smart enough to remember to rinse filter in tank water and rinsed it with tap water! DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH now I am sure I will right back into a cycle!! Not very smart on my part thats for sure.

Just figured I would share (or admit lol) that yes I indeed had a blonde moment!

 

[blueberlin]

I clean my filter in tap water. I just don't do a water change that week. Don't freak, dear. Our pets will survive our... care...

-Eva

 

[bobberly1]

Yeah, your not supposed to, so I don't take the chance. I always rub them in buckets of water that i siphoned during water changes.

 

[Kaysie]

Unless you scrubbed every surface in the tank, I doubt you'll go through a cycle. The bacteria live on every surface in the tank, not just the filter.

 

[naymo]

I actually didn't know anything about not cleaning you filter with tap water, I have always done it. OPPS, guess I should change my ways then.

 

[lazymut]

I wouldn't worry too much i did it for a long long time without realizing nothing bad came of it!

good luck

 

[Terri9967]

Well thats good to know. Right after I did it and put the filter back in the tank, I recalled what I have read on here in the past about not using tap water. It was certainly a "duh" moment for me. And no I didnt clean anything else other then all the poo on the bottom of the tank. All plastic plants, rocks, and hidey places were untouched.

One other question.........I recall reading also that the filters with the little carbon pieces in a cartrage are not good for our axies. Is this correct? That is the kind of filter I have.

 

[blueberlin]

Hi Terri!

I'm not a chemical genius but in the simple terms I understand it, carbon filters poisons out of the water but at some point becomes saturated, in which case the poisons are released back into the water. My friendly neighborhood pet shop boy told me not to leave the carbon in the filter for more than 2 weeks. There really is no need to have carbon in the filter at all, unless you have some chemicals (like antbiotics) that need to be filtered out of the water. Your mechanical filter and bilogical filter (plus regular maintenance) will be all you need for a clean, healthy aquarium.

-Eva

 

[Terri9967]

So in other words, I bought the wrong filter??? Mine is the waterfall type with spray bar, has the sponge in the bottom of it and in the middle the carbon cartrage. I bought 2 of theses, one for each end of the tank as I have a 55 gallon. So I need to buy new ones??????

 

[blueberlin]

No, no, that's not what I meant at all. Sorry, I always assume the whole world has their setup just like mine. :dizzy:

I think that you can leave out the carbon cartridge but now I am uncertain and will back down and wait for someone else to reply.

-Eva

 

[Kaysie]

There is no NEED for carbon in a tank, as Eva said. This is usually only necessary to remove toxins from the tank. From a filtering standpoint, carbon has no purpose. Mechanical filtration comes from your sponges (this removes the particulates), and biological filtration comes from the bacteria living on the surfaces of the tank (this removes ammonia and nitrites). Unless you have other toxins in the tank (medication, etc.), there's no need for carbon, but it's not harmful to have. That being said, there are VERY few instances where it's acceptable to medicate a whole tank.

 

[Terri9967]

Ok thank you everyone. Thats a relief. I will just simply remove the carbon cartridge and leave the sponge in. whewwwwwwwwww thanks

 

[Kaysie]

You don't have to remove the carbon. But you don't have to replace them when they're 'used up' either.