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Ok here goes...I will try to explain as best I can but I'm not very technical.

Recently I bought a 180 gallon tank. It came with a filtration system that I can believe maybe a "Baffle system". If I am wrong on what it is called PLEASE tell me.

Next...I have the system running...water running from the tank into and enclosed Chamber in the back left corner. At the top of this "inflow chamber" is a vent type thing. The water runs into it...the bottom of the chamber has a hose that leads to a smaller tank under my 180 gallon. Runs through some Bio-balls and pumped back into the tank.

Now here are my questions:

1. How full does the water in the "inflow chamber" have to be in relation to the vents. I was thinking about 1"below the vents but maybe right up to the vents?
See picture here: http://www3.telus.net/public/mihart/180gallon/180gal.bmp

2. How full is the "Baffle filter?" supposed to be? Right now it is about half full...about 2" above what appears to be 2 grates. I thought it should only be up to the top of these grates.

3. Should there be any filter media between the 2 grates?
See picture here: http://www3.telus.net/public/mihart/180gallon/180gallon2.bmp

4. Are the bio balls in the top chamber (where the water comes in) correct? Should they be in the bottom chamber or should something else be in the bottom or empty?
See picture here:
http://www3.telus.net/public/mihart/180gallon/180gallon3.bmp

5. Where the water flows into the top chamber it is cover by a plasic grate and flows straight in over the bio balls. I am wondering if there is something else that will disperse the water a little better than going straight in or is that fine?

6. Should I put any gravel in the filter area?

7. Anything that I am missing that I should do to make it work better?

It seems to be running fine but I want to make sure it is all correct.

All input is appreciated. Thanks to all reply in advance.

Last edited by katana at 25-Oct-2005 23:02

Last edited by katana at 26-Oct-2005 01:23

I see no reason not to include more forms of biofiltration in addition to the balls.
Since the bioballs are rather wide you might want to try something with finer of filtration to catch the smaller particles. I'd go with some sponges at least, looks like an aquaclear sized 300 or 500 depending how deep the tank is would work nicely. They're only a few dollers and will last for ages, just cut to size.
Hope someone else knows the answer to the rest .

^_^[hr width='40%']"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

Thank you so much for your reply. I will definately add more filter media.
The Bio-Balls should be in water not above water right?

Anyone have any more information on my other questions, as I really want to get this tank going and am stumped by a few things. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yep the bio balls will want to be in the water to keep the bacteria alive.

You might want to try a few different arraingements of what order to put the filter media in.

^_^
[hr width='40%']"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]