Debris released into water column when cleaning filters

My AquaClear 70 powerhead filter has a basket with sponge filter, carbon sock and sock full of bacteria media beads. My ecotech pumps have mesh type covers on them.

No matter how careful I am, when removing all of the above to clean, a lot of debris tends to get released into the water column. Usually yellowish in color. I figure it's full of nitrates.

Is it ok? Or should I avoid releasing that crap into the tank as much as possible?

If so, what are the good techniques? Just lifting the media bag from the top of the powerhead filter basket releases crap into water. Lifting entire basket does the same.

Thanks.

 

Same thing happens with me, even if I try to be as quick as possible in removing it. But that is what it there for to trap detritus. Only cleaning them more frequently would cut down on the amount released when they are moved. But I do not think they are adding anything to your tank that is not already there, the nitrates should not really go up when you are releasing a small amount of detritus back into the water column.

 

+1 IMHO

In the filter or in the tank its the same thing and still in the water
its more of an aesthetics issue and not a nutrient issue IMO

one techinique that helped me when doing this was

turn off power, remove water from tank for water change (which lowers water in aquaclear

lift off, and then extract plastic cage when unit is over the bucket

Steve