[AquaticLife] Cleaning tank filters, ect….
Are you trying to clean the actual bio-wheel spinning pleated filters… or the rest of the filter system? Has this system been kept running so the actual filter media and bio-wheel is still cycled (the nitrogen cycle… nitrifying bacteria growing on/in them, etc.) or has this system been shut down for a while?
If the system has been shut down for a while… more than a day… then all of the nitrifying bacteria has likely died off. They start dying off within an hour or two of when they stop receiving an oxygenated water flow.
If this is the case, then you can use plain white vinegar which is acidic and will soften and break down the hard water buildup of calcium and minerals. You may still have to use the green scrubby pads but it should all come off. It’s easier to get off the glass if you lay the tank on each side and allow the vinegar to soak in for a little while using a paper towel soaked in the vinegar to keep the vinegar in place. If you don’t have plain white vinegar around your home and plan on buying some, then buy the pickling vinegar instead since it’s a stronger acid than the plain white vinegar… if the price is similar. As long as you keep the bottle sealed tight, it will last for a while and you can use this over and over as the need comes up for cleaning things “naturally” around your tank. If the vinegar doesn’t work 100%, then make a salt paste and try that also.
If you are trying to clean the actual pleated filter ends, be gentle with them. The two end caps slide onto the spindle to hold the pleated section in place. If you slide one of the end caps too far, it will release the pleats and you’ll have fun trying to get them back in place… or just go buy a new one at that point. If the filter is still cycled, I would only use a very small amount of vinegar and try not to get any onto the paper filter material as it would kill off your nitrifying bacteria. You can’t leave the pleated filter out of oxygenated tank water for very long or the good bacteria will start to die off.
Lenny Vasbinder Fish Blog - http://GoldLenny.blogspot.com (Links to any articles referenced in above reply are listed on the right side, alphabetically under Labels and also under Archives by Year, Month)
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
