Dirt on filter system?

[KFav93]

There's dark brown spots on my filter, is this dirt? Should I be concerned?

 

[mambee]

Probably just diatoms. No worry.

 

[KFav93]

Probably just diatoms. No worry.

Can I wash it off?

 

[Potluck]

You can wash only the plastic in the sink, not the cartridge/media, that gets swished around in the fish water when you do your partial water change in the bucket you siphon the water out into, never wash media /cartridges with tap water only fish water it will kill your beneficial bacteria.

 

[Potluck]

Also don't let the cartridge or media dry out put them in the bucket of fish water until your done rinsing the plastic, DO NOT USE ANY I REPEAT ANY CLEANER JUST STRAIGHT UP WATER when cleaning the plastic no soap nothing.

 

[skrapeNKA]

I use an old toothbrush when I'm cleaning the brown stuff out of my filter intake, takes it right off!