Fluval 404

[theone]

What would be the best set up inside my filter?

What would you guys put in it? And in wich order?

Thanks!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

You have the sponge filters first. After that I would put polywool, then bio media then any chemical filtration you may use (carbon, phosphate/nitrate removers, etc). i would then put a bit more polywool at the top as a final "polish".

Basically you want the mechanic filtration first (sponges and filter wool) to get any sediment out of the water and stop the rest of the media clogging. Then you want your bio filtration and after that you want to put in anything else you might use.

 

[theone]

You have the sponge filters first. After that I would put polywool, then bio media then any chemical filtration you may use (carbon, phosphate/nitrate removers, etc). i would then put a bit more polywool at the top as a final "polish".

Basically you want the mechanic filtration first (sponges and filter wool) to get any sediment out of the water and stop the rest of the media clogging. Then you want your bio filtration and after that you want to put in anything else you might use.

Thanks, but could someone be plus precise please. What kind of chemical filtration? What kind of biomedia?

Amonia remover? Biomax? Nitrate remover? Zeo Carb? Clearmax?

This is more what I'm looking for as an answer. There's so much on the market. Just don't know what to put in.

thanks!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Ahh ok

Personally unless you have a specific issue with water quality you don't need any chemical filter media. Just mechanical media (sponges and filter wool) and something for your bio media. On the bio media there are loads of different options. Basically you want something that the water can flow through easily with a lot of surface area. I normally use the Fluval Bio max ones but there are other alternatives.

One last tip is that some LFS and many websites will say you need to replace the sponges or bio media regularly. This is complete rubbish and is likely to do a lot of damage as you will be removing the bacteria that process the ammonia and nitrite. The only thing you will need to replace is the filter wool, just give the sponges and bio media a rinse off in tank water every so often to remove debris. Dont use tap water though as this will kill of the bacteria.

 

[theone]

Ahh ok

Personally unless you have a specific issue with water quality you don't need any chemical filter media. Just mechanical media (sponges and filter wool) and something for your bio media. On the bio media there are loads of different options. Basically you want something that the water can flow through easily with a lot of surface area. I normally use the Fluval Bio max ones but there are other alternatives.

One last tip is that some LFS and many websites will say you need to replace the sponges or bio media regularly. This is complete rubbish and is likely to do a lot of damage as you will be removing the bacteria that process the ammonia and nitrite. The only thing you will need to replace is the filter wool, just give the sponges and bio media a rinse off in tank water every so often to remove debris. Dont use tap water though as this will kill of the bacteria.

Thanks!

Exactly the typpe of answer I was seeking for.

Tell me, I always use Nutrafin Waste Control Aquarium Treatment, Nutrafin Cycle and Nutrafin Aquaplus at each One week partial water change.

Do you suggest I continue. I've been doing this in my 25gallons aquarium for 3 years now. But am I doing it for nothing?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Not sure what all of them do to be honest but as long as your water quality is good and your filter is cycled then all you really need to add is dechlorinater when you do a water change.

The only one I would be careful about stopping is the waste control one. It sounds like it could be something that locks ammonia so if you have always been using this your filter my not have enough bacteria to support the full fish load. Probably not really an issue but I would just use less of it over the course of a few weeks before you stop using it.