Shook my sponge filter..white dust everywhere now!!

[shynepo3]

So the filter tube cap was sort of loose, causing the water to come out too fast. So to make it tight again, I had to shake the sponge filter in the tank...which caused all the debris and dust on it to fly everywhere...

Now, I notice this white dust in my tank constantly...it does eventually settle, but if i slightly cause any movement in the tank at all, such as moving around some gravel, white dust will start to fly...it's A LOT...it looks white and stringy like...some of it's brown too...and it'll take hours to settle..

So i have a few questions:

1)To clean the sponge filter to avoid buildup in the future, do i just swirl it in a bucket of tank water (during a pwc)? I notice this doesn't really remove a lot of it...unless I physically use my fingers to pick off the debris...which may be harmful to the beneficial bacteria?

2)I also had a few almond leaves in the tank...would this cause an abnormal build up of dust?

3)I also had the tank hood open for long periods of time (my betta is not a jumper), due to hot temp...does this cause abnormal build up of dust?

The dust makes the tank look so dirty. And prior to shaking the filter, I never noticed amount like it...maybe just a bit when I did pwc and gravel vacuuming...I just want it to either go away completely, or at least not show up whenever i decide to just move gravel from one spot to another..
thanks in advance.

 

[titchrules]

My answer to question 1.
I clean my filters by dipping them in tank water during pwc. Then giving them a good few squeezes in the water. Does the job for me.

 

[titchrules]

I dont know about the dust. Hope you get some answers.

 

[shynepo3]

thanks...i'll do that as well...

 

[titchrules]

Actually just had a thought and could and most likely be wrong but it's a thought ...
If your filter has 3 different components such as White filter, carbon filter and the block filters... Could the block filters be the cause?
In my filter they are creamy White in colour a bit like chalk. Could be they were disturbed and damaged somehow?
Might be worth checking if you do have it and if it's intact.

 

[mfdrookie516]

Sponge filters only have a sponge...

Just do some gravel vacs, it'll clear up. When you do your weekly water change, just put some water from the tank in a bucket and put the sponge in there... squeeze it repeatedly... if you hold it under the water, it'll turn a nice brown color.

 

[shynepo3]

thanks for all the replies...i'll start cleaning the filter with tank water by squeezing it...hopefully after a few weeks, it'll all disappear or be minimal..

prior to this, i never cleaned the filter, only the insert in the hob...but not the actual filter in the tank itself...so this is probably why it built up.