FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi everyone, this is my first post on the forum, nice to meet you all..

I'm in the process of setting up a much bigger tank than I have previously had, and I'm going to be using a pair of canister filters for the first time. My current tank only has an UGF.

My question is - what should I use for filter media, and what order should I put the different types of media in the various trays? E.g. mechanical filtration on top, biological filter media below, etc. Most people seem to use the 'sponge' type filtration on the top tray, but I'm sure I read a recommendation somewhere that the finer filter be placed in the bottom tray to avoid it clogging up quickly and slowing the flow rate. The filters I bought are quite low end and didn't come with much media so I'll need to buy something. Should I use the same configuration in both filters?

Also, a lot of people seem to recommend using nylon scourers as an alternative to bio balls/ceramic noodles, due to the surface area for bacteria - has anyone got any experience with these? I'm all for cheap, effective options.

S,

I hope that I can call you by your 1st letter.

You may want to use a pre-filter sponge on your filter intake to grab some of the large gunk before it enters your cannister. The first thing to know is the flow of your filter. Place a coarse filter before your initial media with a fine filter pad before your secondary media. In many cases you may have the opportunity to have more than two spots for media. If you have three, consider a sponge for the third spot.

The bio-media can be anything that has a porous surface. Although Eheim manufactures and sells media, rough gravel and lava rock can be used with similar results. Remember that smaller pieces provide greater surface area for colonization than larger pieces. Pieces that are too small will "leak" through your media baskets and will surely ruin your impeller. Use a screen with moderate holes to size your media.

A caution on using gravel is that it should be neutral. Test it with a bit of vinegar to ensure that it is not carbonate.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I don't know what kind of filter you use but the Rena and fluval canister filters tell you what order to put your media in. I have the Rena xp3 and I use the coarse spong for the first stage then the water flows through a finer sponge then flows through the bio media through to the chemical filtration and then a micro fine sponge before reentering the tank(whew). I don't know if I have to follow that particular order, thats just what the instructions say. Good luck and by all means have fun with it.

Hi,
Actually, there is "method to their madness" in listing
that media in the given order. If you were to reverse
the coarse with the fine media, the filter would clog up
in record time as the fine filter media would stop every
thing in the first stage.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I'm not concerned about the gravel - it was sold as aquarium gravel and is the same that the store uses.

Interesting that everyone's recommending sponges. My filters certainly didn't come with any, other than the really coarse variety, but as I said I bought the bargain basement ones. Other reading I've done speaks of using ceramic noodles, sintered (sp?) glass, bio balls etc. Some of these options are expensive, so I don't want to outlay money unless it's for a good reason.

I'm definitely not planning to use carbon unless after using medication. Shouldn't be necessary if everything's up and running properly.

I'll think about it all some more.