New Filter

[cleric boomer]

Hi All

I have been a member for a while, but not really posted.

I have a 166L tank with Tanganekan (sp).The tank is not heavily populated with about 25 fish. Not planning on increasing this number, although I know there is a school where you over stock the tank to minimise the potential for fighting.

OK. back to me query, I need to change the canister filteras the current Einhem is starting to slow down with its water flow.

I was looking at one of these

http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-external-filter-2000-l-h-9w-uv-1216-0.html

Now it has a good flow rate, and a UV to help kill of the bug ugglies. I am planning on putting some of my existing media in to help start if off.

But the main question is. They include something called Bio-Balls. Which help the nitrate eating bacteria. But they are supposed to also keep PH neutral. Which is bad as I keep mine at 8.2 or thereabouts. Has anyone used one of these filters? have they used the bio-balls does it reduce PH?

If they do I will just use the usual filter media. But since they are included in the price and if they help reduce nitrates then I will use them if its ok.

I have asked this question of the supplier but they are not able to help. (never been asked this apprentley).

Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas

 

[VaegaVic]

Hi All

I have been a member for a while, but not really posted.

I have a 166L tank with Tanganekan (sp).The tank is not heavily populated with about 25 fish. Not planning on increasing this number, although I know there is a school where you over stock the tank to minimise the potential for fighting.

OK. back to me query, I need to change the canister filteras the current Einhem is starting to slow down with its water flow.

I was looking at one of these

http/www.allpondso...-uv-1216-0.html

Now it has a good flow rate, and a UV to help kill of the bug ugglies. I am planning on putting some of my existing media in to help start if off.

But the main question is. They include something called Bio-Balls. Which help the nitrate eating bacteria. But they are supposed to also keep PH neutral. Which is bad as I keep mine at 8.2 or thereabouts. Has anyone used one of these filters? have they used the bio-balls does it reduce PH?

If they do I will just use the usual filter media. But since they are included in the price and if they help reduce nitrates then I will use them if its ok.

I have asked this question of the supplier but they are not able to help. (never been asked this apprentley).

Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas

Hi there,
I recently bought the 1000LPH version for my 64L tank and I have nothing but good things to say about it.
The bioballs are just plastic, whether or not certain bacteria are attracted to them is another matter, but #33### do they take up a lot of space, I could just barely manage to fit all my media in from my eheim 2215.

NitrAte eating bacteria need their own food source and these are usually found in use in Marine tanks, perhaps it would be worth while asking over in the marine section. If in doubt, leave it out!

Merry Christmas!

 

[kiriyama]

I don't have Eheim but I have the bioballs in one of my externals, they help because they have a good flow through them ensuring a good supply of oxygen to the bacteria helping to break down ammonia
just of curiosity, is it trops that you keep ?

 

[lalo99]

Hi All

I have been a member for a while, but not really posted.

I have a 166L tank with Tanganekan (sp).The tank is not heavily populated with about 25 fish. Not planning on increasing this number, although I know there is a school where you over stock the tank to minimise the potential for fighting.

OK. back to me query, I need to change the canister filteras the current Einhem is starting to slow down with its water flow.

I was looking at one of these

http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-external-filter-2000-l-h-9w-uv-1216-0.html

Now it has a good flow rate, and a UV to help kill of the bug ugglies. I am planning on putting some of my existing media in to help start if off.

But the main question is. They include something called Bio-Balls. Which help the nitrate eating bacteria. But they are supposed to also keep PH neutral. Which is bad as I keep mine at 8.2 or thereabouts. Has anyone used one of these filters? have they used the bio-balls does it reduce PH?

If they do I will just use the usual filter media. But since they are included in the price and if they help reduce nitrates then I will use them if its ok.

I have asked this question of the supplier but they are not able to help. (never been asked this apprentley).

Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas

Based on your tank I would say your are overstocked as its is. I assume you have Malawi Mbuna. IMO overstocking usually brings more problems than it fixes. Finding proper male to female ratios is usally a better bet to haveing a peacefull tank.

Your filter is probably fine. They slow down when they need to be cleaned. You should not replace this filter. Eheims are great filters and should last for years. I have some that are well over 10 years old running everday. With regular maintanance they should last a lifetime. If anything you can add another filter. A small HOB filter should be more than enough.

You should not need a UV sterilizer in your tank. They only kill things that actually pass through them and they tend to make the tanks too sterile. They are good to run shoirt term to help remove algae from the water etc. but should not be run constatntly. They tend to include them in pond filters vbecasue most ponds geta lot of sun and have green water problems. The UV light helps eliminate this.

Bioballs will have no effect on the pH at all. All biological filteration will reduce ph slowly. I believe it removes some carbonates from the water. They act like all bilogical media, a place for the Nitrifyng bacteria to live. Bioballs are best used ina system when they are exposed to the air such as a sump. In a canister there is better media than can be used. Such as crushed coral( also helps bufffer the water), ceramic rings, ect. These will have a lot more surface area than the bioballs. B

Bioballs or any biological media will also not reduce Nitrates. Water changes reduce Nitrates. Nitrates are the end product of the Nitrogen Cycles for freshwater tanks. Plants will reduce nitrates as well. A heavily planted tank can have very little to no measurable Nitrates. This usually is not an option for Mbuna tanks. They tend to eat the plants or just shred them up.

What is your ph out of the tap?

 

[cleric boomer]

I have Tanganykia chichlids. From the LFS who specialise in these fish they have advised I am ok with the size of the tank to the number of fish (25 max, it is less, sad that I can not recall the exact number...lol).

The filter is cleaned regularly (using tank water) and the last time there was no appreciable increase in flow. There is also an issue with the filter handle. I know that they are good filters and have a great reputation. I think I may just have a lemon. They do happen

Thanks about the UV advice. I understand that the EF UV light can be switched on independently of the filter running.

The fish love live plants, love them into little bits, which makes for a messy tank.

I had always acted on the assumption that the water changes lowered Nitrates, and do regular (weekly) 20% changes, usually adding Tapsafe and PH8.2 (the only chemicals I use).

PH of tapwater tends to be 7.2

 

[lalo99]

25 tangs in that tank is alot. Of course it depends on the species in the tank. I still would not add anymore. I take LFS's advice with a grain of salt. They are in buisness to make money. Most LFS only care about you comeing back to buy more. I'm not saying the one you mentioned is like that, there are good ones out there. However, They seem to be the exception to the rule.

You can keep your ph up using baking soda. Its much cheaper than other products. You should know your KH and GH as well. The good thing about Baking soda is it will max out the ph at about 8.2.

What species are you keeping?