To clean, or not to clean... that is the question...

[tanyaclick]

Hey guys, dumb question. I'm still a newb. I'm cleaning out my temporary pond/pool trickle/shower filter. About 4 layers down in sponge and coke crates there's still this particulate, which I am assuming is the good bacteria. But I could be wrong and need to clean it. See attached pic and let me know if this is just waste byproduct that I should rinse off, or leave it because it's a thriving community of lovely bacteria.
Thank you!

 

[WaterGardener]

Bacteria is not visible without a microscope. And beneficial bacteria is not easily washed off. So, to me, that is just pond muck and should be rinsed off.

 

[tanyaclick]

Bacteria is not visible without a microscope. And beneficial bacteria is not easily washed off. So, to me, that is just pond muck and should be rinsed off.

thank you!

 

[WaterGardener]

You're welcome. And there are no dumb questions here! We were all new once and had to learn as we went along. It's nice to have communities like this one that we can go to for help and we all need help.

Enjoy your pond.