Two part filter question.?

Question

1. The instructions on my filter says that I should replace the filter cartridge every four weeks. I thought bacteria were supposed to develope in the filter so how can they if I replace the cartridge monthly?
2. The other day I fished something out the aquarium with my hand. Just then I realized that I had just washed them with anti-bacterial soap. Can this act kill off the bacteria I am trying to grow?

Answer 1

Spt, you are right actually when you say it's supposed to develop there. If you look at the different type of filters out there, not sure what one you have, but I like Aquaclears myself, they have three components to it. The sponge, activated carbon, and bio max on the top. I've found with these type of filters most of your beneficial bacteria grows in the sponge itself. This makes sense from a different point of view if you think about it. The sponge itself filters mechanically and strains out physical food and fish waste and that would be the point of ammonia introduction through the filter, and also why you have some in your gravel as well. Bacteria like any other living organism will establish itself near "food" fuel source. Manufactuer's benefit if you replace parts sooner then needed and their motivation is pretty clear on that....money.

It's really not necessary to replace your sponge or bio max components or whatever bacteria media you have, as often as they say. Then you do have bio wheel type filters, which you really don't want to replace at all. There are also wet/dry and cannister filters which work a little different, but I'd assume you either have a component or bio wheel and you just ignore the manufacter instructions as far as replacing goes. In fact, when you do clean out your sponge portion, use a bucket of the tank water you are replacing and that will help you retain somewhat, your bacteria.

Anti bacterial soap, in theory would yes, destroy some of that. You have other bacterias, some unwanted in your tank. Just having it on your hands technically would kill off some, but most likely not nearly enough to effect the overall operation of your biological filtration. Now if you pour an entire dose of soap, yeah it would, but the soap itself in the tank would pose a much greater danger and kill the fish long before your bacteria dying would come into play.

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JV

Answer 2

Do you have gravel in your tank? Your gravel will also hold the bacteria for you. The new filter cartridge will fill up with the friendly bacteria quickly after you change it. Many filters have extra little sponges or wheels that also trap the bacteria. Another thing you can do, is rinse the cartridge out with dechlorinated water, or some tank water that you syphoned off for your regular water change. That won't kill the bacteria like tap water will. The filter cartridges can be rinsed off and used several times, though the companies don't tell you that. You really should'nt have to worry about it, though, if your tank is well established (a few months up and running). So rinse the filters out for the first couple of months, then it shouldn't matter.
As far as the antibacterial soap, I am assuming you washed it off your hands after you used it...It would take more than that to kill the bacteria. It should be fine. If you are in doubt, do a 25% water change.

Answer 3

Does your filter setup have a "bio wheel" or any other medium that states that it is for bacterial growth? If not, my advise would be to wait atleast two months before changing if its a newly setup tank, during that time gently wash the filter using the tank water that you have siphoned out during your regular 10-20 % water changes weekly to clean it with, do not use fresh water from the sink to do this. If you gently wash it, it gets the UN-beneficial build up off which allows the good bacteria to multiply. Also, the gravel in your tank allows the good bacteria to grow, so changing the filter is not a total loss. Keep in mind, the charcoal in your filter will lose effectiveness in about a month on average and begin to "release" bad phosphates back into the water, so I would find some other way to add new charcoal into the tank "somewhere" to keep absorbing what it needs to while the old charcoal in the current filter starts to fail. I have two filters in my tank, one to filter debris, and one that holds charcoal. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Do you have gravel on your tank? Your gravel will additionally carry the bacteria for you. the modern sparkling out cartridge will replenish with the friendly bacteria rapidly as quickly as you regulate it. Many filters have extra beneficial powerful little sponges or wheels that still seize the bacteria. yet yet another ingredient you're in a position to do, is rinse the cartridge out with dechlorinated water, or some tank water which you syphoned off on your well-known water replace. that may no longer kill the bacteria like faucet water will. The sparkling out cartridges could be rinsed off and used extremely some circumstances, besides the shown fact that the businesses do now no longer inform you that. you fairly ought to'nt could want to problem approximately it, besides the shown fact that, interior the journey that your tank is fairly time-honored (some months up and working). So rinse the filters out for the 1st couple of months, then it may in all threat now no longer count quantity. as some distance via fact the antibacterial cleansing cleansing soap, i'm assuming you washed it off your palms as quickly as you used it...it may take extra beneficial powerful than that to kill the bacteria. it may be beneficial. in case you're doubtful, do a 25% water replace.

Answer 5

bacteria is going to grow in the bio-wheel. so you can replace the cartege without losing the bacteria.

The bio-wheel should really never be changed until your tank is established.


Are u asking if you canadd soap to the aquarium?

Or if you wash your hands with anti bacterial soap and then go back into the aquarium with your hands = kill bacteria?

Either way no.

The bacteria is all over the aquarium ,if your running a UGF then the bacteria down there is safe. The bacteria in the bio-wheel will be safe.