reusing filter media?

[batang_mcdo]

I'm planning to reuse my canister filter.
i lost 3 arowanas before and i left the media in the canister for about 2 weeks turned off.
when i poened it up . it smelled of rotten eggs.
I was planning to use the canister. and also the media. they smell of rotten eggs. I washed them already in tap water, and i've soaked them in salt salution.
can i reuse the media? specially the ceramic rings?
I'm planning to add it to my tank which already has filytration. just additional filtration.
can i reuse the media?

 

[navygirl76]

i wouldnt, but thats just me. whatever bacteria you had on there is now dead and rotten (not to mention there might be alot of ammonia in there now), i would just scrub out the canister really well and rebuy any media.

 

[Ianab]

It would probably be OK to boil the ceramic media for a while - 30mins or so.
That should steralise it, then just treat it like new stuff and re-use it.
The smell will be dead bacteria and general tank gunge, due to the filter being off for so long, so give it a good clean before re-use

Cheers

Ian

 

[guppy]

To make sure you remove any organic residue I would soak the rings in hydrogen peroxide overnight then boil for 15-30 minutes.

 

[deckard_wa]

Yes you can reuse the media, no worries at all. You should boil it for a while first which will clean detritus that has been trapped in the pores and you'll be good to go

 

[batang_mcdo]

thnaks! will clean my ceramic rings.
btw how about zeolite stones?
i have some used ones. but hevmn;t used for a while.
can i soak them in salt water then sundry for a few days?

 

[batang_mcdo]

After soaking in bleach solution. I rinsed the ceramic rings. then i boiled them and sundried them. will this have gotten rid of the bleach used?

 

[neekaragua]

what about a mild chlorine solution then rinse well and use a water treatment on it
that was suggested to me by the owner of my lfs

 

[tunerX]

After soaking in bleach solution. I rinsed the ceramic rings. then i boiled them and sundried them. will this have gotten rid of the bleach used?

Letting it sit out will get rid of the bleach, as long as it was pure. I would have just rinsed everything out really well with hot water, then started the cycle.

 

[batang_mcdo]

thanks I'll soak in anti chlorine to be sure. then will be using my ceramic rings again