'Bad' bacteria

[Dave S]

My LFS store has told me that I should change Eheim EhifiMech and
EhfiSubstrat every 8 months. When I asked the reason. I was told that after
a while 'bad' bacteria builds up and it becomes ineffective. If this is the
case, could I boil it (and thereby remove any impurities) and use it again?

TIA - Dave

--
cadasco at hotmail dot com
Hampshire - UK

[Happy'Cam'per]

Marketing Hogwash. Its a consumable so of course they're going to tell you
that. As long as you're doing regular gravel vacs I don't see why this stuff
can't last indefinitely. I've been using it in one of my filters for WELL
over a year, no problems at all. And the answer to your question is yes, you
could bouil it and reuse it.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

"Dave S" > wrote in message
...
> My LFS store has told me that I should change Eheim EhifiMech and
> EhfiSubstrat every 8 months. When I asked the reason. I was told that
after
> a while 'bad' bacteria builds up and it becomes ineffective. If this is
the
> case, could I boil it (and thereby remove any impurities) and use it
again?
>
> TIA - Dave
>
> --
> cadasco at hotmail dot com
> Hampshire - UK
>
>

[Peter Ashby]

Dave S > wrote:

> My LFS store has told me that I should change Eheim EhifiMech and
> EhfiSubstrat every 8 months. When I asked the reason. I was told that after
> a while 'bad' bacteria builds up and it becomes ineffective. If this is the
> case, could I boil it (and thereby remove any impurities) and use it again?

Don't boil it, you'll kill all the bacteria and risk an ammonia spike.
Rinse it in the water you remove for a water change every so often to
stop it clogging and you won't get anaerobic pockets where 'bad'
bacteria can sit anyway.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

[Billy]

"Dave S" > wrote in message
...
| My LFS store has told me that I should change Eheim EhifiMech and
| EhfiSubstrat every 8 months. When I asked the reason. I was told
that after
| a while 'bad' bacteria builds up and it becomes ineffective. If
this is the
| case, could I boil it (and thereby remove any impurities) and use
it again?
|


Bull. I've had an Eheim 2320 with the same media (not counting floss)
since I got it nearly 2 years ago. The tank is pristine. If it makes
you feel better, boil the media, but you'll just be killing off your
'good' bacteria. I just rinse it in tank water after a water change.

[Dave S]

"Dave S" > wrote in message
...
> My LFS store has told me that I should change Eheim EhifiMech and
> EhfiSubstrat every 8 months. When I asked the reason. I was told that
> after a while 'bad' bacteria builds up and it becomes ineffective. If this
> is the case, could I boil it (and thereby remove any impurities) and use
> it again?
>
> TIA - Dave
>
> --
> cadasco at hotmail dot com
> Hampshire - UK
Thanks to all who replied. The info (as usual) is most useful. - Dave