Filter media - Cotton

[Ken Pinard]

I have a question for reference:

When I as a kid, we had a couple of 10 gal tanks with those filter
containers that sat on the bottom. Used used cotton as the filter media. Is
cotton a bad idea? I assume it would eventially rot. Back then we were told
to change it when it got dirty. Now I know that meant it had finally gotten
the good bacteria going.

I thought I would ask otherwise I will keep thinking about it.

Thank you for any comments,

A just curious aquarist,
Ken

[NetMax]

"Ken Pinard" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question for reference:
>
> When I as a kid, we had a couple of 10 gal tanks with those filter
> containers that sat on the bottom. Used used cotton as the filter
media. Is
> cotton a bad idea? I assume it would eventially rot. Back then we were
told
> to change it when it got dirty. Now I know that meant it had finally
gotten
> the good bacteria going.
>
> I thought I would ask otherwise I will keep thinking about it.
>
> Thank you for any comments,
>
> A just curious aquarist,
> Ken

As long as the cotton is not treated (ie: fungicides) then it's ok. It
doesn't have a very long life expectancy, it clogs quickly (starving the
bacteria) and when you replace it, you lose a lot of beneficial bacteria.

NetMax

[Andy Hill]

"Ken Pinard" > wrote:
>When I as a kid, we had a couple of 10 gal tanks with those filter
>containers that sat on the bottom. Used used cotton as the filter media. Is
>cotton a bad idea? I assume it would eventially rot. Back then we were told
>to change it when it got dirty. Now I know that meant it had finally gotten
>the good bacteria going.
>
You've basically answered your own question. Cotton rots, it mats easily
(making a big clog), and you end up throwing away a good chunk of your biofilter
when you toss it. Durable filter materials are cheap (and can be re-used for
years with occasional rinsings), so why bother?

[Ken Pinard]

Thank you,
I knew there had to be good reasons. I hadn't tried using it. I was just
remembering how I was told before and wondering if it made any sense at all.

Thank you again for the responses,

Ken


"Andy Hill" > wrote in message
...
> "Ken Pinard" > wrote:
> >When I as a kid, we had a couple of 10 gal tanks with those filter
> >containers that sat on the bottom. Used used cotton as the filter media.
Is
> >cotton a bad idea? I assume it would eventially rot. Back then we were
told
> >to change it when it got dirty. Now I know that meant it had finally
gotten
> >the good bacteria going.
> >
> You've basically answered your own question. Cotton rots, it mats easily
> (making a big clog), and you end up throwing away a good chunk of your
biofilter
> when you toss it. Durable filter materials are cheap (and can be re-used
for
> years with occasional rinsings), so why bother?