time to clean filter pads - pura and thin blue one above bioballs - rinse in tap ?

[3bavboys]

saltwater ?
other methods ?

 

[Fast Fred]

Are we talking about the filter media that is on the drip plate above the bio-balls in a wet/dry filter?

 

[3bavboys]

yes
thx

 

[aquawolf]

It all depends, do you have new replacements for them?

If so, then I would clean them using tap water and hang them out on a line or somewhere else to fully dry. Next cleaning time you can switch them out with the dirty ones.

If not, then I would clean them in some of the used tank water you removed when doing the water change. This should help keep anything bad from coming in through your tap water system.

Others may have different opinions, but this has always worked for me.

 

[Fast Fred]

Years ago, I had a similar set up. I used filter felt on my drip plate. It comes in sheets, and you cut it to fit. When it gets dirty, you though it away and install a new one. It's cheap enough to consider it disposable. By buying larger sheets, and cutting it, it works out to about $1.00 per peice. I used about a one a week. IMO, $1. per week for filtration is not bad.

Are we talking about a FOWLR? Reef? Which?

 

[3bavboys]

so bottom line -
clean them when i do a water change - rinse them them out in the old water ?

 

[3bavboys]

90g folwr w/skimmer
100# lr and 80 # ls

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

I only use the pad when stirring or siphoning out my sand -- just to catch detritus. Usually take it out the next day, rinse thoroughly, and hang to dry until the next time. Anywhere, including on such a pad, where you collect detritus can produce a lot of nitrate over time. You'll likely want to remove the bioballs over time as well, because they too can produce nitrate unless you keep them very clean and/or submerged at all times. I still have mine in, but I'll start removing them if I ever see nitrates above about 2.5ppm. Currently 0.0ppm, so I'm not worrying about it...

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Oh, maybe I should read the rest of the thread.

For FOWLR, I'd just rinse it out every few days and put it right back in and just keep the bioballs. A little nitrate never hurt a FOWLR tank.

Having said that, unless heavily stocked, your LR and skimmer is probably adequate to do the trick without the bioballs. I'd still remove them slowly and see how the nitrate levels in the tank react.

 

[3bavboys]

thx
but rinse them how ?
tap ok ?
or rinse only when doing a water change using the old water ?

 

[yeame]

rinse with water taken from tank no need to kill good bacteria on pad doit when it gets real dirty

 

[piranhaking]

old tank water. Dont use tap for anything in your tank if you can help it at all. To big a risk of junk like phosphate getting in your tank.

 

[Emmelemmo]

I rinse mine with RO/DI water every other week and replace it with a new one once a month.

 

[3bavboys]

where to buy more of the thin blue pads ?
what is the product called ?

 

[SaltyMember]

where to buy more of the thin blue pads ?

You can buy it in a big roll and cut it to size. I got it on Ebay. Search for "wet/dry filter" and you should find it.