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Aquarium Filters: Set up & upkeeping

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 19:07 — philosophizer

Hey all,

I wanted to ask how you all have set up your filters.

Currently I have activated corbon in mine over a sponge that is somewhat course. I am thinking I should add the bio filter stuff that's roundish with the hole going through the center underneath.

And I would love to hear everyones expertise regarding this all important contraption.

Thanx.

Comments

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 16:35 — philosophizer

Filter Set Up

Okay,

I have just 'reset' my filter.

From bottom to top:
Biomax circles: Permanant base
Layer of filtration material: Snugly fitted
Layer of carbon: in nylon sac
Layer of filtration material

The biomax I added to it today, along with a new top layer as I had access space on the uppermost layer.

Thu, 03/19/2009 - 20:38 — Chrisso

Filter set up

I put some coarse foam at the bottom of the filter (1-2 pads), this filters out most of the big debris before it clogs the bio rings, then on top of the bio balls I use filter wool to extract fine particles of waste. I don't use carbon as I once read that it may contribute to 'hole in the head'. My advice to you for your filter is:

From bottom to top:
Coarse foam pads
Biomax circles
Eheim bio balls -or similar
Layer of fine filter wool.

I reccomend Eheim filters, the Eheim Classic is very good for messy fish but can be difficult to prime. The default set up for this filter is a vast ammount of coarse pads and a layer of fine foam on the top -this has proved to be effective for me in the past also.

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 20:25 — pinkmandie

how i do it

the sponge is on the bottom, then its the carbon, then on top is the white holey things.

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 08:32 — shaz

filter

My tank has a built in filter which is outside the tank but under the hood, right along the length of the tank,(no wet hands) it has three compartments, each compartment holds a disposable filter tray with the medium already packed in, mine goes bottom-big holey rings, then black twiggy things then sponge and last on top carbon, you buy a whole separate compartment (5 in a pack) and replace one every 6 weeks or as conditions dictate, Iv never seen a filter like mine but its great and easy to use and you never replace all the trays at any one time so the tank never has a drop in good bacteria levels

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 20:38 — pinkmandie

something else

when i am at the lsf getting the tank, i ask for a bag of "dirty water" which is where they take the sponge from their filter and squeeze it in a bag i then take this home and dump part of it in to the filter and the rest in to the tank. i dont start the filter up yet, i let the sponge absorb it. then i start it up the tank looks real nasty for about a night, but some will go in to the gravel the rest will stay in the filter. this helps jump start the cycle process. i do htis only from a trusted lfs because if not you can bring some disease in. i also get the water out of the same tank of fish that i will have in my take to be sure that the ph and everything is the same. i also do this after i need to medicate, in case i have killed any bacteria. when ever i have done this i cycle in like a week or 2. i also have fish in the take while this is going on. i use like very hardy danios, but from what i have heard it doesnt matter. i always take them out after. then add the other fish slowly.

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 19:58 — pinkmandie

filters

i use the aqua clear filters for all of my tanks, i have the sponge then the carbon then the white hole things. i never change the sponge i just take it everyonce and awhile and squeeze it out in dirty tank water to get some of the junk out. but i change the carbon if i ever medicate. i do the same with the white hole things as the sponge. i dont like to replace because if you throw out the filter parts then you are throwing out the bacteria that you worked so hard to get. but if you dont clean them like every 1-2 months then they will get clogged. i have done this with several tanks and have never had a problem. but this is my first parrot so maybe someone else can shed some light.

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 20:15 — philosophizer

Thanks. You also reminded me

Thanks.
You also reminded me of an additional question I had:

Q: What order do you place the mediums in?

If I recall correctly I hear the white hole-things go on the bottom, then the sponge and then carbon.

I am going to buy the white bio stuff today and will try to improve my filter assembly soon.

Wed, 03/25/2009 - 02:00 — sunnysdad

Re: Thanks. You also reminded me

in my aquaclear 110s, i put the mechanical filter ( the sponge looking thing)on the bottom, then carbon in my own filter bag, not the aquaclear pre packed ones. next i put zeolite crystals again in my own bag, then bio filter media on top in my own bag. i use the matrix biomedia. the only part of my filter that is actually made by aq is the mechanical filter media. i almost forgot that i put some filter floss between the mech and the chemical filtration.