My Filtration Idea

[mario chainsaw]

i have a rena xp2 external filter and a fluval 4 internal in my 4 ft tank and i am going to be keeping african cichlids and i was thinking would it be ok to remove the sponges from the rena xp2 and just fill the media baskets with siporax but leave the sponges in the fluval ?
do you think this is the best thing to do ?

 

[mario chainsaw]

how come no one has answered this topic?

 

[piper]

You should have posted in the hardware section and should be a bit more patient.

Personally I would leave the sponges in the XP2, other wise the other filter media will get really dirty which aren't as easy to clean as sponges.

 

[rabbut]

There is no reason as to why you couldn't, but the spiorax would not be as good at either mechanical or biological filtering as the sponge you are replacing, so personally, I wouldn't

Biomax might be better if you just want biological media that is low maintanance, but I'd presonally use a medium sponge in the bottom half of the bottom basket, then a fine sponge in the top half and then floss if you want a water polish, and fill the top basket with biomax or similar biological media.

There isn't anything wrong with the mature sponges in there already though, unless they are falling appart, or the tank has crashed due to disease/unknown caurses though...

HTH
Rabbut

 

[mario chainsaw]

thanks rubbut .
the ext filter that came with my aquarium only has two baskets you see and i have a fluval 4 internal running aswell so that could have sponge and the external could have the ceramic rings do you think thats a good idea or not rabbut?

 

[piper]

No for the reason I gave

 

[mario chainsaw]

ok piper thanks but why woul it matter if the rings got really dirty would that not just mean more beneficial bacteria ?

 

[rabbut]

The Spiorax is not biological media, as it has a smooth surface. It is used for catching larger particles and breaking up flow to reduce chaneling through your filter media. Bio-max is biological, as it has a pitted and pourous surface. Any similar ceramic media can be used though, biomax is just my prefured brand

Without sponge in the exturnal, as piper says, the bio-ceramic media will become dirty quicker, and won't do it's job as well as it should. This will lead to an otherwise low-maintanance media requiring a lot of cleaning I'd get sponge in the XP2 as well, before the bio-ceramics

HTH
Rabbut

 

[piper]

As Rabbut said.

Dont confuse dirt with bacteria

 

[mario chainsaw]

rabbut im certain youre wrong about siporax as i used to use it and it is extremely porus and not smoothe !