Filter Media

[benzonar]

I have a Juwell Rio 180 with the associated internal filter.

Quick question, the white guaze filter that sits at the top of the stack, should this always be in the filter?

Its just that I find it clogs up very quickly and can turn the tank light on in the morning there can be very little flow through the filter due to the clogging. I have a sand substrate.

Can I forget about using this filter?

 

[lee8040]

good question, ive heard this part is quite important in the filter so i would assume that it needs to be in there, be interested to see what the experts say as it would help me to

 

[Bloo]

I've always used the white pad at the very top of the stack on my Juwel Vision 180 (for the past 3 odd years now).
However that said, I used to replace it completely every week as it got too dirty. More so when the tank is planted. But yes, you do need it. Make sure you also rinse the sponges each week and also siphon the bottom of the filter well.
Also ensure that you wash the filter head and impellor very well (under some strong water such as a shower head) as a clogged impellor can cause sluggishness.

However...... I've just ditched my filter in my 180 and replaced it with an external Eheim 2224. The difference is astounding and worth every penny of the £90 (all inclusive) I spent on it.

 

[Rodge]

from the sounds of it that white one is the gross filter and is designed to pick up all the crap so that it doesn't get to the other two sponges reducing the amount that they need cleaning.

I think the idea is to replace it every few weeks or when it is really bad that it restricts water flow. The other two sponges have the bacteria so there is no harm in throwing the white one away. I know the replacement pads come in packs of 4 and are about £2 a pack.

I cant see a problem in not using it but it would mean that you would have to clean the other sponges more often.

 

[Bloo]

I cant see a problem in not using it but it would mean that you would have to clean the other sponges more often.

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I really would advise against *not* using it.
It serves a purpose and you will only end up clogging your filter more without it.

Just make sure you rinse your other sponges very well in siphoned water weekly and chuck and replace the white sponge.

 

[big mick]

I use a handfull of filter wool instead, its cheaper.

Do you really clean the filter sponges every week?, I usually do mine every few months (changing the filter wool every week though)

Should be cleaning them more often bloozoo2?

 

[Bloo]

It depends on your bioload really and if your fish are healthy and you have crystal clear water and no algae problems, then you are probably fine. But my tank is fully stocked and I've always has to clean it out on a weekly basis. When I squeezed them out in the siphoned tank water loads of brown gunk came out - probably partly plant matter as well. If I did not do that on a strict weekly basis my water would become a tad cloudy and I could see in my fish behaviour (sluggishness) as well as the tank (increased algae growth probably due to higher nitrates) that it needed doing.

So if you have super healthy fish with no illness outbreaks, then your routine is probably fine.

Filter wool does the job too either way, some white filter floss is certainly needed.

 

[benzonar]

Cheers for that.

On a further question, can I change the powerhead on my Compact H Juwel filter to a more powerful one?

Otherwise it looks like I may have to eventually go for an external. The price you have to pay for being fully planted I suppose.

 

[Bloo]

If you are fully planted I'd say to go external - either as a full replacement or in addition.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

I read that you can get a big block of white filter floss from the lfs by asking for the pond filter floss, and just cut it to size. I think you do need to keep the white sponge in there and just change it weekly or as often as needed. Its just used to remove the big pieces of detriment and the two blue sponges are built to maximize bacterial growth apparently...