[Forest]

Hi all, has been a couple of years since I posted. I am setting up my aquarium again as I now have the space and time for it. When I took my system apart I put my canister filter in the shed and didn't empty the water from it, silly I know. Would the biological media be ruined or can I rejuvinate it by soaking in a bleech and water mix or maybe wash very well. I don't know if this water has become toxic and absorbed any poisons from being stored like this for so long. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Manwithnofish]

Can it be revived? Don't know. I believe I'd go for new media for $12.00 and not risk killing my fish.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+15433&pcatid=15433

 

[Naja002]

What I've done is setup a 5g bucket with a strong bleach solution and run it through that. Then run clean water with dechlor over-dosed, swapped out the water and did it again (dechlor). If there is any floss in it I just toss it....otherwise, I check the media and decide what gets reused and what gets dumped....

 

[Forest]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to use salt to clean the biological media and then soak for a few days. Will test water to see what has leached in to it.

 

[Diana K]

Lots of rinsing and water changes of the rinse water.
H2O2
Bleach
other
can be used to kill possible live things.

If you suspect chemical contamination:
1) Wash everything with Simple Green (developed for use on wildlife affected by oil spills)
2) Run the filter in a 5 gallon bucket of water and load it up with activated carbon.
AC adsorbs all sorts of toxins. Swap out the AC every day or 2 for a week.

 

[Forest]

I have now bought new media and will leave the old media soaking in RO water for a while and then test that water to see whats in it. I hate throwing things away.
Thanks for all the replies. This is a friendly forum that I hope I can contribute to soon.