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hi guys
i have recently changed one of my baskets from containing carbon to the noodles. i still have 1 basket containing carbon. i have no sponges other than the 2 sponge pads that run from top to bottom on the left of the baskets. my tank is accumulating a far bit of waste on my gravel and on plant leaves and am wanting to add some more filter sponges to clear it up. whats the best combination of filter media to keep these fine particals out of the water? i have rinsed out one of the sponges during my last water change and the week before is when i removed the carbon and replaced it with noodles. what should i do now? yes i rinced only in tank water. im feeding minute amounts so its not that thats whats caused it, due to the plants i cant really vacuume so i guess thats caused it to accumulate? and Otto/ snail poo

If it's little particles then you're seeing them in the tank because they've just bypassed the filtration right? You'd want a fine sponge or floss.
Keep in mind that the finer the mesh on a sponge or floss the quicker it'll get clogged. You may want to try running a seperate HOB filter or a quick filter just to catch the little bits that bypass your main filtration as they're easier to get access to than a canister.
A quick sweep with the gravel vac would work as well.

^_^
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With my Eheim I have removed the large noodles and replaced them with a very rough Eheim Lava rock this collects more good bacteria as well as the waste products. Between the two baskets there is a thick 1ins course filter pad. The top basket has smaller balls this removes finer particals. The final process is tow extremly fine filter pads.

I have plenty of airation and water movement and never have a problem with any particals left unfiltered.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

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thankyou guys
i will suss out what other media i can get for my Fluval, i think i remember seeing some of that Lavarock stuff? sounds like i should also replace noodles with that. Im sure Fluval sell one of those fine mesh inserts? i have found not many LFS stock them so i will have to travel 1hr to where i bought all my stuff from originally to got the inserts bugger!
thanks again /:'

loulou,
You might also want to try contacting adam and ordering [link=online]http://www.equarium.com.au/store/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] he might have some instock and not listed. I'd save you driving an hour ...make that two hours just for filter inserts .

^_^



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I have Fluval 304s and 404s in almost all my large tanks. From what I have seen and my experience, Fluval filters are great to ... filter water and that's about it. The succion is not strong enough to really get everything in there and since the outlet is located at the surface, not much water movement is created at the bottom. Mind you, surface agitation is THE best way to get rid of CO2 and bring in O2, which is a good thing. So...

In practically all my "fluval tanks", I also run in conjuction a HOB to collect the poop and stuff. Changing your Fluval media will not really change much if you have a big problem of waste accumulation at the bottom.

Furthermore, as Babelfish said, a good tank vaccum will beat any filter and is a MUST. It's a tidious task but you can not escape from it. If your tank is full of plants, like some of mine are, remove the bottom piece of the vaccum and use only the plastic tube part (not the flexible tubing alone). It will be easier to move around your plants and you'll have less "replanting" to do once done.

Hope that helps a bit.

Sponge

Last edited by Sponge_Bob at 20-Dec-2005 08:33