Filter Question

[Blue Bubble]

Hello, I got my new 105 litre tank today, with no instructions!

The filter seems straight forward, even with my complete lack of technical ability! but want some advice from you experienced folk. Be gentle with me please!!! Bearing in mind, I am use to a filter which I stick on the side of the tank with a sponge in it!

So here goes.....

It seems to work on a drip feed process coming up through the black pipe at the side and along the clear tube dripping down through the sponge, there are plastic shelves with holes in underneath and then a gap under them where the water collects, moves along to the left and back into the tank through a hole. My non-technical explanation haha.

Keeping Freshwater, tropical fish....

So questions:

1) Should I put another kind of media under the plastic shelves where the gap is as like a second form of protection, If yes, what would be good?

2) There is just a hole on the left which is about 2cm diameter where the water comes back into the tank, should I put anything on here? Do I need to know anything about the gap between the water level and that hole?

Any other advice you have on it, would be appreciated.

Thank you

Elaine, Blue Bubble <<<<<female! but not blonde!

ps Hope you can see the picture, my first time posting

 

[doresy]

Hi, you have a canopy trickle filter similar to the Aquaone system.

It is very good in my opinion. I'll try to answer your queries.

In the gap where the water flows accross I have a thin layer of white floss to 'polish' the water before it flows back. Be sure to check this though at every weekly water change to avoid blocking.

The gap between the return hole and the water surface does not need anything. By raising the water level to a higher position can quieten the gurgle if it becomes to loud. This is designed to create ripples to increase oxygen transference into the water.

Only other advice is remove any carbon that may have been supplied. I would suggest from the top a layer of floss media then a layer of coarse foam media and if there is room some ceramic tubes (AKA noodles)

 

[Blue Bubble]

Hi, you have a canopy trickle filter similar to the Aquaone system.

It is very good in my opinion. I'll try to answer your queries.

In the gap where the water flows accross I have a thin layer of white floss to 'polish' the water before it flows back. Be sure to check this though at every weekly water change to avoid blocking.

The gap between the return hole and the water surface does not need anything. By raising the water level to a higher position can quieten the gurgle if it becomes to loud. This is designed to create ripples to increase oxygen transference into the water.

Only other advice is remove any carbon that may have been supplied. I would suggest from the top a layer of floss media then a layer of coarse foam media and if there is room some ceramic tubes (AKA noodles)

Hello doresy,

Thank you for replying, I have set the tank up tonight, I have the water level about an inch from the return hole so it is a bit too noisy so will raise the water level up tomorrow.

I have a layer of coarse sponge there now but will get a layer of floss for the gap and for the top. In my small tank, every week I would do my water change and rinse the filter sponge in the water change water. How often should I rinse out the media in this tank and someone said as it is a long strip I should cut it in half and only rinse out half, each change, is this true.

My small tank is an aquaone, which I really like, but couldn't afford the one I liked this size, so have a cheap one at the moment from the internet, which apart from the glass seeming to be tinted blue, is looking good so far.


Many thanks

Elaine

 

[doresy]

Hi there........that someone was spot on with the suggestion of cutting the media in half and cleaning just one half at any one water change.

Hopefully you will be doing a fishless cycle to prepare your tank. No cleaning of the filter during this time is needed. Also once cycled and you have fish be careful with the cleaning. Obviously the floss needs a good clean at each water change but look at the coarse foam media before cleaning, only gently squeeze it out in old tank water if its getting clogged. If it isn't clogged then leave it.....a sterile filter is no good to man or beast