Big ol' filter queries!

[Ellio]

Hi all,

I have a few filter quandaries and could really use some advice.

I currently have 2 Juwel tanks (120L and 110L) and use the eccoflow 500 filters that came with it. I also set up the spongers as shown in their instructions. Both filters have started stalling a bit, one a lot more than the other. Pne has been running for about a year and one for a year and a few months. I have taken both filters out a couple of times and cleaned the outside, bottom connector, impeller, impeller housing and the flow piper. They've never been super clogged up but the bottom connector bit does get some white gunk on it that I'm yet to identify.

I've recently seen that maybe I should have biomedia in the filter and have the sponges set up incorrectly (currently have white fine sponge at very top).

My queries are;
What could be causing the filters to falter and slow down?
What is the white gunk on the bottom connector bit of the filter (see photo)?
Is it worth putting in biomedia? If so, what kind? Will putting it in cause the tank to recycle?
Is it worth upgraing to a ecoflow 1000 filter instead? I'm told it will fit my tanks?

Thanks very much!

 

[Essjay]

Can you tell me a bit more about your filters, please. I used to have a Rio 125 and the filter in that was not removable but if I've read your post correctly, you have taken your out to clean it?

With the filter in my tank, the white pad was meant to go on top - it was first in the direction of water flow to catch the big particles so they didn't get into the sponges.
Looking at Juwel's website at their current models, it would seen the 110 litre tank is a Primo and the 120 a Lido?
Sponges are actually biomedia as well as mechanical media, and they are very efficient biomedia. You don't need a special biomedium like their cirax.

How often do you clean the sponges? They should be squeezed in old tank water that you remove during a water change every couple of weeks. The white pad won't wash more than a couple of times before falling apart so that needs to be replaced regularly but the sponges will last forever. Well, almost forever.


All upgrading the pump will do is increase water flow. The 500 delivers 500 litres per hour while the 1000 delivers 1000 litres per hour. With the volume of your tanks, 1000 litres per hour would be overkill, specially if you have fish which need low water flow.