Can you boil ceramic/sintered glass/whatever seachem matrix is bio media?

Jspigs

Jspigs

There is always more to learn
Aug 5, 2009
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Jacob
I have a bunch of old bio media of the types listed in the title. I want to use it as a pre filter media in my new canister filter because I think it would work well as a pre filter media much like pre filter ceramic rings. The problem is the media has been exposed to fish tb.

I am wondering if it would be possible to boil this media to sanitize it and allow it to safely be re-used. My only concern is that it might not hold up to the boiling.

I think I might as well try it as it would definitely sanitize it and it would just get thrown away if I did not try but I want to hear what all of you have to say before I try.
 
Why not bleach first then boil?
I boiled my substrat pro(stintered glass) and it held up just fine.
 
I have chosen not to use it. I would have if it was as simple as boiling but the repeated bleaching and boiling seems like more work than it's worth.
 
Don't you have bleach for laundry? Soaking is a no effort treatment, boiling not much more, meh. Sounds like a waste of money & media, what quantity are we talking? How can you be a New Englander? (& I'm a transplant, LOL)
 
fishorama said:
Don't you have bleach for laundry? Soaking is a no effort treatment, boiling not much more, meh. Sounds like a waste of money & media, what quantity are we talking? How can you be a New Englander? (& I'm a transplant, LOL)
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I am just worried about some of the bleach getting stuck in the pores of the bio media and then leaching out into the tank once set up.
 
Bleach is safe just use 1 part bleach 20 part water.
I think one bleaching then boil for 20 minutes should do the trick.
 
I should have said use 2-3x dechlor as a final soak. Really, it should be safe, I've done it many times...but up to you. People think of bleach as a "scary chemical" but it shouldn't be. It won't "get stuck" (my husband is a chemist & keeps me from doing anything too risky if I ask & I have)

Where are you in MA? I could always use lotsa free ceramic media LOL. Shoot me a pm before you pitch it ;), I'll bring you some plants, lol.
 
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