proper way to clean filer pads - pura and the thin blue one just above bioballs ?

drew2005

Active Member
Originally Posted by 3bavboys
just rinse them out very well in reg tap water ?
lfs says rinse in saltwater ?
Rinse them out in the water your changing out from your tank.
 

roll tide

Member
I've cleaned my bio balls once in the 2 years Ive had my tank. I used tap water and let them dry before putting them back. I did leave a handfull in the filter that I did'nt clean. As for the other pieces, I wash out with tap water every couple of weeks. Not sure if this is the right way or not but it has worked for me.
 

oceanists

Active Member
I dont think you should be cleaning it , isnt that your beneficial bacteria? without it you will cycle again
 

drew2005

Active Member
Only clean about 1/4 of the bio balls. I think if you clean them all at one time youll run into problems.
 

jttenpro

Member
I would add a second blue filter pad above the bio-balls and replace one every 2 months or so. Do you have the Pro Clear wet/dry? I have always rinsed the pads with tap water twice a week, easier to clean thoroughly. I have never had a spike at all and nitrates are almost always at 0. I have found with the bio-balls and live rock, you have 100 lbs correct, you shouldn't have any problem. The 2 pads would be a benefit, with less detritus collecting on the bio-balls. Mine have no build up at all after 9 months. If you do eventually have build up, definitely rinse those off in tank water and about 1/3 at a time.
 

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by jttenpro
I would add a second blue filter pad above the bio-balls and replace one every 2 months or so. Do you have the Pro Clear wet/dry? I have always rinsed the pads with tap water twice a week, easier to clean thoroughly. I have never had a spike at all and nitrates are almost always at 0. I have found with the bio-balls and live rock, you have 100 lbs correct, you shouldn't have any problem. The 2 pads would be a benefit, with less detritus collecting on the bio-balls. Mine have no build up at all after 9 months. If you do eventually have build up, definitely rinse those off in tank water and about 1/3 at a time.
 

mr_bill

Active Member
Also if you'd like to stay with bio-balls you can make your life alot easier by using some plastic netting to bag up the bio-balls into groups. I have 3 bags of bio-balls in my system that I swap around and rinse with removed tank water every 6 months.
 

3bavboys

Member
i have a pura pad under my blue pad
yes , pro clear wet/dry and pc skimmer
my trates are a touch high at 30, 2nd blue pad may drop 'em
will the act of rinsing the pads and losing detrius drop trates at all ?
flowlr -
 

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by 3bavboys
i have a pura pad under my blue pad
yes , pro clear wet/dry and pc skimmer
my trates are a touch high at 30, 2nd blue pad may drop 'em
will the act of rinsing the pads and losing detrius drop trates at all ?
flowlr -
Yes, the pads are trate traps, you really need to keep them clean.
 
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