Tetratec Ex1200

[robertsskippyj]

Hi all.

Well I took everyones advice and went with the above filter and a Hydor ETH 300 external heater for my Juwel Rio 180 and it arrived this morning before leaving for work.
Now I need to cycle it so here comes my question.
The juwel internal filter is still running and processing everything fine so how do I ensure that the new external one gets enough fish waste to be cycled enough when I switch the internal off and cut it out? Can I do a cycle in a bucket? Will it get enough just plumbed into the tank?

Thanks in advance.

 

[minnnt]

I would remove a layer of sponge from the 1200 and cram all the media from your internal in the space created in the TT and you will be good to go. No new cycle, no messing.

 

[robertsskippyj]

I would remove a layer of sponge from the 1200 and cram all the media from your internal in the space created in the TT and you will be good to go. No new cycle, no messing.

My internal Has Bio balls in a plastic cage as well as well as 4 sponges (not including the carbon) could I cut open the plastic cage and put the bio balls in some where to?

 

[DrRob]

Yes.

Bioballs would live in the top of the filter. Generally it's mechanical, sponge, bioball type stuff, then polishers.

 

[Tizer]

any mature media needs to sit at the bottom of the filter, be it filter sponge, ceramics, bio balls etc. You can take scissors to the sponges and cut them up into 1 inch squares and stuff them in the bottom tray, along with the bio balls. Bacteria will be able to move upwards in the water flow to the new layers of media and colonise them too.

 

[DrRob]

True, I was thinking final layout.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Great thanks for the Advise guys.

Didn't think of cutting up the spounges and squeezing them in with the balls in the bottom.

Do i try and squeeze it in with the tetra tec bio balls or instead of them or between the ceramic cleaner rings and the bio balls?

 

[Tizer]

Great thanks for the Advise guys.

Didn't think of cutting up the spounges and squeezing them in with the balls in the bottom.

Do i try and squeeze it in with the tetra tec bio balls or instead of them or between the ceramic cleaner rings and the bio balls?

Whatever your gut tells you to do mate, there is no exact science behind it, just the lower the better but if it becomes too jam packed, chuck them on the level above. In the months that follow, throw a few bits of sponge away with every time you clean the filter. Or keep them and use them to seed another filter in the future or a friends tank. Up to you.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Great thanks for that will have a go when I get home.

Guess I don't want one level so jammed full that it affects the flow through the filter.

 

[minnnt]

The bio balls are in the second tray up rather than nearer the top of the filter. The ceramic rings are actually there to disrupt the water rather than for the bacteria to live in. Tetratec believe that the plastic bio balls have a greater use for the media to live in. Just squeeze them in where you can and you will be fine.

 

[Tizer]

The bio balls are in the second tray up rather than nearer the top of the filter. The ceramic rings are actually there to disrupt the water rather than for the bacteria to live in. Tetratec believe that the plastic bio balls have a greater use for the media to live in. Just squeeze them in where you can and you will be fine.

yeah i read those instructions when i got my filter, i just decided it was a load of old tosh. From bottom up i got mature ceramic rings - sponge, new ceramic rings - sponge, bio balls and old mature sponge bits - sponge, then two sponges and polishing pad to top it off.

 

[minnnt]

I'm going to be adding Purigen to all mine too... along with a nice tlayer of new filter wool.

 

[Tizer]

i been looking for Purigen but i think i'll have to order via eBay, never in any shops i go it.

 

[minnnt]

That's where mine is coming from. All of my Seachem products come via the Bay as none of my LFS seem to stock it for some reason.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Ok so I set the filter up.

Just the one problem the spray bar is so loud its untrue what can i do with it can it be submerged? Can I run with out it and just the outlet?

Thanks.