Some advice on filter media PLEASE!

[silver]

Hi all,

I was hoping I could get a few of you to come in here and share what kind of filter media you use, what it is called and why you like it (for those of you who have the larger media filters of course) I just got done treating my tank with meds and I need to buy new media and I'm not very knowledgeable in this area.


Thank You,

Silver

 

[crimsontsavo]

I have done this on larger scale.

My filter media is mucky goo, lol.

It's a whisper fall filter, with the flossy insert- no charcoal.
The cannister part that holds the water has a good layer of goo in it.
It holds all sorts of living things- worms/bugs-etc.
They break down the larger bits and keep my water healthy.

Right now I'm working on doing it to my pond.

I wouldnt even use a filter, but I need the water flow.

*typoes,lol.*

 

[silver]

Thanks for the reply!!

I do hope I get a few more before I go to the LFS later on

(<just thought these were cute)


Silver

 

[crimsontsavo]

lol- they are cute.

It might take around 24/48 hours to get most of your replies.
Alot of people are in different time frames.

 

[silver]

I know, it's like 5:30 pm right now for me and more then half of the members here are probably snoozing right now
Pretty wierd when you think about it!


Silver

 

[Abernathy]

Great question! I'm a little curious as well, especially when you see tanks with CRYSTAL CLEAR water. How do you all do that? Personally, I use Marineland Biowheel filter media, which contains activated charcoal. It works okay, but surely there must be something better.

 

[cutechic]

Great question! I'm a little curious as well, especially when you see tanks with CRYSTAL CLEAR water. How do you all do that? Personally, I use Marineland Biowheel filter media, which contains activated charcoal. It works okay, but surely there must be something better.

That's what I use, too, except I had to take the carbon out because I got plants. Now my water isnt quiet as clear. My lighting also contributes to the clearness of the water: now I have a bluish tinge to it.

 

[silver]

So what I got from that was that charcoal is good? Call me dumb but I'm just making sure


Silver

 

[silver]

A lot of people seem to be on the forum at this moment so I wanted to come in real quick and reply to myself so my post gets recirculated.




Reply to me NOW, I need help!!



Silver

 

[Bol]

What kind of filter is it, Silver?

I currently run a Penguin on my main tank, and use their filter cartridge in conjunction with a "homemade" one.

For the homemade part, usually I use polyester batting (aka quilt stuffing) from a hobby shop. I estimate I can "make" about ... 30-50 "cartridges" for around $4 using batting. Three cautions going this route, though:

1) You want the label to say "100% polyester batting". No cotton, no treatments, no dyes.
2) I find it helps a lot to swish the batting in old tank water before installing it. Some of the material tends to 'flake off' when it first gets wet.
3) In my experience, it breaks down more quickly than, say, the fiber material of commercial cartridges. But, it's still usually good for at least a month.

Check this link to see how to "renovate" a Penguin cartridge using batting, for a very small fraction of the cost of a commercial cartridge.

I've also used sponges (such as the filters they make for AquaClears, but cut to size.). They seem to work pretty well, too.

Also, as far as I know, charcoal is (for practical purposes) merely a chemical filter. It won't help remove "floating gunk" much. (Plus, the charcoal in the media cartridges gets rendered next to useless fairly quickly). Personally, I never use it except for "mopping up" medications.

Since you've just finished medicating, I'd recommend getting a cartridge (or a bag, or whatever) with activated charcoal, and let that run for two to four days, then remove it. It'll remove most of the residual medication.

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

That's what I use, too, except I had to take the carbon out because I got plants.

Why did you have to take the carbon out to grow plants?

 

[Bol]

Activated carbon can leach minerals (read: trace elements) out of the water that the plants use for growth.

Some people debate whether the carbon will leach a significant amount of these minerals, before going "inert", though.

 

[silver]

Well, my filter is a Fluval 304. It is a pretty good filter that's for sure, but I bought it used from a friend and it didn't come with any instructions or anything when I bought it from him. I went online a year or so ago and downloaded the manual, but it doesn't give much for media types. It tells me all of the types I could get of course, but doesn't say what I SHOULD get.

I'll tell you what I have been doing:

Where the picture says FS, that is where the Sponge stuff goes, I just buy generic at Petco. it works fine.
In the L - lower - compartment I put the bigger media, because this is where the water flows to next, and I have been using some sort of Bio~Max rings (little white donut looking things).
In the M - middle - compartment I don't put anything.
In the H - high - compartment is where I put the activated charcoal.

Does this sound good or should I change something!??? It seems to be doing a good job, but since I am doing a media change anyway, I thought I'd see just how good it is, for the water and fish.

Thanks guys,

Silver

 

[Bol]

Sounds good to me. Only suggestion I could make is that you may want to duplicate your "A" module in slot "B". Then, you can alternate cleaning them, for minimal disturbance of your bio filttration.

 

[silver]

That's actually a good idea. I may just have to follow your advice on this one Bol...

But don't expect me to do it again!!! JK!!


Silver