More questions...filtering this time..

[Semo]

Hey,
Now that I am saturating myself with the bundles of info you guys..and gals seem to have..(great info at that..I am so thankful I ran across this site) I have a couple books but its all too much cash getting the equipment and books all from scratch.

My new question is about the filter..I have 12g nano dx...it has 3 small black square filters that are about 3"x3" cube stacked. How often do I clean them? Is tap water OK when I do clean?

I have lots of small white thingies..looks like bubbles but much smaller than diatom bubbles. I am just assuming these are bubbles but they don't seem to rise to the surface..just move around with the current. Is this possibly something the filter is no longer catching?

 

[reefman23]

Are you reffering to the foam blocks? If so, I would suggest cleaning them at least 2x per week. If you dont, the wastes will break down and release nitrates into the system...not good.

As far as these small white thingies, they could be microbubbles from the filtration. Sometimes small crustaceans like copepods can get blown off the rock and float around in the water.

 

[Semo]

Yeah, The foam blocks..I am really new and saturated with information. I was afraid if I did clean the filters..(they are filters right?) it would slow the cycle process...

I thought I had cycled but now I have no idea..I have had the tank up for 3 weeks and only cleaned them twice. The second time being 5 minutes ago. I just rinsed it out in the sink really well. The nitrate got to 10 five days ago and I did change 2 gallons out of the 12g nano.

 

[sadielynn]

you can give them a good swish in old tank water , if they are really crummy I wash them in tap water and and rinse and soak in old tank water for a half hour . :mrgreen:

 

[mikeguerrero]

I would rinse them in tap water to flush them very well if they are really dirty, I even use hot water to make sure all the crude is out.

Before I place them back into the tank, I dry them very well as I don't want any residual tap water to go in my 12 gallon cube.

I had two sets of foam blocks while I pulled out one the other dry foams would enter the tank; this reassured the blocks were sterile.

Pick up an extra set, they are really cheap and worth it...

MG

 

[Semo]

Hey mike,
It just so happens, the first tank I ordered came in busted big time. After almost a month haggling with UPS..I got my new one all in one piece. I have lots of extra goodies. I didn't have to give any of it back. Already using the extra pump to mix my saltwater.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Good Semo,

Then make them your second set, when ever you pull out your dirty sponges pop the other blocks in immediately and then clean the others.

You'll have a clean set and never have to worry about the tap water issue...

MG

 

[EDGRAY]

good one on the second set of sponges mike i could never thought about that my self i might look into that in a future, i do what sady mentioned and you mike i wash mine in the sinck with the hotest water i can handle until no more brown water flows and then i let them for a couple of minutes in the old water of my tank rinse them many times and then back to the tank but sounds better the 2nd set ill do that this weekend ...thx for the idea mike

eddy :cool1:

 

[skipm]

I only use one sponge in the first chamber so I don't need an extra set, three sponges seems overkill to me unless you were using them for biological filtration.

 

[EDGRAY]

i think same thing as you skipm but i use 2 cause just in case if sponge one didnt got all the dirt the 2nd will get some ... so im gonna keep devating on mike & skipm and see what i up to do. but anyways semo is your choice.... 2 or 1 sponge ... either posibilities are good but for sure dont use 3 toooooo much like skipm mentioned.

eddy :cool1: