TetraTec PF300

[daniodude]

Does anyone know what happens with the living chamber. I know it fills and emptys and refills, exposing some bacteria to oxygen and whatnot, but would I be able to use it as a cheap fuge? Would I be able to put rock in some of it and then put phosphate remover on the "living chamber"? does the whole filter empty or is it just a section of it?

Thanx
DanioDude

 

[chkltcow]

I'm not entirely sure what a "PF300" is. If you're just talking about a normal Aquaclear 300 hang on back power filter.... it's easy to make a refugium out of. Lots of people on another site do it and talk about how wonderful it is. Most of them, however, use the bigger AC500 and change out the impeller to slow the flow of water a bit. Essentially it involves gluing a baffle in place so the water has to come in at the pump, over the baffle into the new makeshift refugium, and then cascade over into the tank.

http/www.californiareefs.com/tank7reef.htm

 

[daniodude]

Sorry, said AquaClear, meant TetraTec. check it out here. click here

sorry
DanioDude

 

[Opcn]

I use the PF150 on my 10 gallon fresh water.

Its all pretty much one chamber with the area holding the cartrages being slightly seperated from a corse sponge that is meant as biomedia, with flow adjusted properly the water level will fluctuate between the top and bottom of a siphon cap anyware between 1 and 20 times a minute (Its rather difficult to get it just were you want it but thats because your playing it all by ear) you can put anything you want in there and even set it up so that the water level never lowers in the filter too. I would highly recomend that you get the infilter heater cartrige as well because with the large volume inside the intake tube it can take the filter as long as 15 minutes to clear the air out of itself, also huge amounts of watercome out of the filter where the intake tube is, probably 2/3rds of the water that my filter sucks up, and its not because of the filter cartrages because it does it when there are none

 

[daniodude]

Would I be able to do a fuge out of that if I have it so that it doesn't drain at all? If you lose 2/3 of the flowwhich would be a better flow rate for a fuge on a 20 gallon? I am just interested in this filter simply because if has a lot of space for LR or something.

DanioDude

 

[Opcn]

Welkl the water flows into the chamber and right back out so if your looking for flow rather than mechanical filtration then your 100% peachy, you keep the system from draining by removeing the siphoncap completely and you can keep live rock in there easily, just so long as you dont have anything requireing light.

 

[daniodude]

Well, what I am doing now is, I have my Penguin Bio-wheel 125 and I put a sponge right after the water flows in. I then put the rock in. Then I took off the top, so there is no top and I have a flourescent strip light over the back of my tank and my filter/fuge. Would I be able to do the same with the PF300?

DanioDude

 

[Opcn]

You should be able to, althought a standard fuge might be less expensive

 

[daniodude]

around me, I can get a fuge used for $75 or new for $100. I can get the Tetratec PF300 for $37(actually, 36.99 ) So, I think I will go with the PF300.
But, Today I saw the PF500 for $100 and the PF300 for $80, I don't think I'm going there

DanioDude

 

[chkltcow]

What size tank is it on? I still think you should do like what I posted and get an Aquaclear 500 and glue in a baffle to make a refugium. AC filters are pretty cheap, and BIG!!!!! I think an AC500 is somewhere around $30-40 depending on where you shop.

 

[daniodude]

It's a 20 long. I think I'm just going to get the PF300 because I don't have to do anything to it, I;m not the best at doing things right the first time... so I think I will do that, plus my b-day's really soon, so money isn't my issue.

Thanx
DanioDude