Re: [Killietalk] Disinfection Questions

[scott douglass <scottdouglass2000 at yahoo_com.au>]

Hi everyone,
Ok I know this might be a dumb question or comment.
But under normal circumstances why sterilize sponge
filters?
In that case you would be back to mechanical
filtration and may as well use one of the wool based
box filters.
Unless there is some major problem, and commonsense is
followed - not dipping the net in every tank. I don't
understand the reason. In fact it could be argued that
making everything too clean would upset the natural
bacterial populations and leave room for bad
protozoans and bacteria.
I also reuse peat when possible, since aged peat is
generally much better, I boil it really more to kill
off any eggs that i might of missed and prevent mixing
up fish.
For hatching trays etc I use bleach, sun and fresh
air. 

My 2.618 cents worth,
curious,
Scott,
Singapore.

--- Charles Harrison <charles at inkmkr_com> wrote:

> At 1:06 AM -0500 11/2/05, Sandy1238 at aol_com wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >
> >How do different members go about disinfecting
> spawning mops and sponge 
> >filters? Would you go as far as disinfecting or 
> >boiling good quality fibrous  peat
> >and using it again? Your answers would be
> appreciated.
> 
> Over the years I have come up with one too many 
> "transmitted via mop or sponge filter" maladies 
> to seriously recommend any method to disinfecting 
> them. If the source is in any way questionable - 
> from a well meaning friend, a fellow Aquarium 
> Club member just getting out of the fish or most 
> "Outside" donations, I just thank them, accept 
> the item and pitch it when I get home.
> 
> A skein of yarn is about $3 and it makes a dozen 
> + mops and I KNOW there isn't a parasite on any 
> of them. I have lost a single pair of $35  Aph. 
> whatsit putting in a couple of mops in their tank 
> from the show or auction left behind only to 
> infect them with the parasite of the month. I 
> rinsed them out with HOT water, left them in the 
> boiling water for 5 min. but still not everything 
> got disinfected.
> 
> As for sponge filters - again if from that well 
> meaning friend - toss it. $4 to $6 for a sponge 
> for a filter vs. any amount of money for a fish 
> that just isn't around any more just isn't worth 
> it.
> 
> If I have had an infection from adjacent tanks 
> and fear there may be some chance of spreading, I 
> toss it.
> 
> On the other hand, if I am moving a mop from one 
> species tank or location to another, I rinse it 
> out in the sink in tap water as hot as I can 
> stand and then heat the wet mop in the microwave 
> long enough to really get it steamy and then let 
> it dry out for a day or 3. Much more heat than 
> that tends to kink the threads and makes it 
> useless.
> 
> I rinse the sponges under a stream of hot tap 
> water until the water runs clear and allow it to 
> dry completely before I use it again.
> 
> I can usually squeeze 7¢ out of a nickle but when 
> it comes to these 2 items much better safe than 
> sorry.
> 
> See you soon Sandy!
> 
> Charles Harrison
> 
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