Hello all! I hope everyone is staying safe and well!
So on my small tank (75 long) I have a Fluval 406 cannister filter. I bought the tank used and that is what the previous owner used so I thought "why not" Then realized the one he gave me was broke so I went and purchased a new one instead of option for a sump. Which is what I should have done but what's done is done.
Anyways its been up and running for two years now. Only issue is the pain it is to change the media, but it seems to do a great job. Just is not real convenient. So Sunday night I notice I had no flow coming out the return. I go to check the intake and one of my large bubble tips was stuck to it. This one is the size of a volleyball when it is open so no idea why it moved to the intake. But without thinking I just shut my UV and the filter off so it could move from it. Hind sight tells me I should have just pulled the end off the intake and replaced it so the filter would still run and the BTA would be able to come off on its own that way. But I did not and the timing was terrible for I have had to work out of town for two day. I am returning home tonight and plan on cleaning and restarting the filter. I have heard that if shut off or down due to a power outage these can turn into nitrite factories. So my question after my long winded story is do I have to remove all the media from it at this point and replace? I hate to pull all the good bacteria out of it. Normally I replace half at a time. It has not been dry. I left it hooked up and full. Just no flow going through it for almost 3 days now. I have all the media. Cost is no issue. I just do not want to nuke my tank when I restart it.
Thank you for your time reading and all advice is appreciated.
So on my small tank (75 long) I have a Fluval 406 cannister filter. I bought the tank used and that is what the previous owner used so I thought "why not" Then realized the one he gave me was broke so I went and purchased a new one instead of option for a sump. Which is what I should have done but what's done is done.
Anyways its been up and running for two years now. Only issue is the pain it is to change the media, but it seems to do a great job. Just is not real convenient. So Sunday night I notice I had no flow coming out the return. I go to check the intake and one of my large bubble tips was stuck to it. This one is the size of a volleyball when it is open so no idea why it moved to the intake. But without thinking I just shut my UV and the filter off so it could move from it. Hind sight tells me I should have just pulled the end off the intake and replaced it so the filter would still run and the BTA would be able to come off on its own that way. But I did not and the timing was terrible for I have had to work out of town for two day. I am returning home tonight and plan on cleaning and restarting the filter. I have heard that if shut off or down due to a power outage these can turn into nitrite factories. So my question after my long winded story is do I have to remove all the media from it at this point and replace? I hate to pull all the good bacteria out of it. Normally I replace half at a time. It has not been dry. I left it hooked up and full. Just no flow going through it for almost 3 days now. I have all the media. Cost is no issue. I just do not want to nuke my tank when I restart it.
Thank you for your time reading and all advice is appreciated.
