Trickle Filter Help

[BaDcLaD]

Hi,
Could anybody help please...
I have a trickle filter which when the water leaves the tank it flows down a tube to a sump in the sump it has 3 parts...
part 1 is filter wool of some description.
part 2 has bio balls..
and part 3 has a large sponge..
is this all i need or is there any other medium i should use?
hope that makes sense..

Cheers

Mark H

 

[doresy]

No, that's what you need The wool type media (stage one) usually white is the mechanical filtration. Takes out poo and stuff (techno name escapes me). It's white to show you when it's mucky. Wash this out or replace when you do your water changes. The balls and sponge is where your bacteria lives and needs little attention providing you regularily maintain your stage one filter media. The bacteria is not visable so when you sponge and balls look dirty (now now ) gently squeeze the sponge and shake your balls (now, I told you!!! ) in old tank water or dechloranised water as chlorine will kill off your bacteria big time!

 

[BaDcLaD]

Thank's very much for the explination
now i understand perfectly, lol
Do you know if it easy to get the first medium?
I think its wool isnt it?

Anyway thank's Again

cheers

Mark H

 

[doresy]

Thank's very much for the explination
now i understand perfectly, lol
Do you know if it easy to get the first medium?
I think its wool isnt it?

Anyway thank's Again

cheers

Mark H

I'll tell you what I use. In the POND area in your LFS you will find a large pack of white fine media in a clear bag for around £2.99. It is about 2-3" thick but you can easily divide it into thinner thicknesses and cut it into the desired size for your filter with sissors. You end up with loads so you can change it regularily Just one important thing to do though....when you have made your piece of filter, RINSE it first as it is a bit dusty after dividing it.

 

[BaDcLaD]

Thank's for the info m8
Will see if i can pick some up when i goto my lfs later i n the week..

Cheers

Mark H

 

[andywg]

Also, to save money, rinse the first stage out under a mains pressure shower if possible. This is the only way I have found to clean my wool, and I am far too tight to buy enough wool to change all my filters once or twice a week when they need a rinse.

 

[BaDcLaD]

OK will do ..
Anything that saves money in the long run helps


Cheers

Mark H