Table of Contents
What order should my filter media be in? The order of filter media, no matter what type of filtration system you have, is always the same. It starts with Mechanical filtration, then Biological filtration, and finally Chemical filtration in that order. Cleaning should consist of simply rinsing them off, in tank water.
What order do you put the media in a canister filter?
The water should go through the filter media in the following order: coarse mechanical, fine mechanical, basic chemical (carbon), specific chemical, biological. In filters that use both coarse mechanical and fine mechanical medias the coarse should always be first.
How should I layer my filter media?
Mechanical filter media should be packed in first so that it receives the flow of raw water. All water should come in contact with this mesh part of the filter before it reaches any biological or chemical filter media.
What goes first in a canister filter?
Mechanical Filtration First The FilStar XP canister filters use coarse foam pads followed by fine foam pads. The idea is the strain out the larger particles first, then trap the small particles. Most mechanical filter media can be rinsed when dirty and used again.
Are bio balls better than ceramic?
Bio balls should only be used for biological filtration only. They simply exist to trap and remove waste. Ceramic rings will ultimately trap more bad stuff, but your bio balls will ultimately do a better job of denitrifying bacteria.
Does a canister filter need to be below tank?
Canister filters should be placed below the aquarium. That’s because the canister fills by gravity and “feeds” the pump water. Some aquarists have been able to place the canister filter next to the aquarium if they have taller tanks.
Can you mix filter media?
You can successfully combine friendly media like water softening resin and carbon in a single tank. This will keep each media clean for years of high quality water.
How often should I change filter media?
Be sure to replace the filter media at least every three to four weeks and give the filter housing a quick rinse. If any algae or debris has accumulated in the intake tube, clean that as well.
How deep should filter be in fish tank?
Water is drawn from the aquarium and pumped into a filter box, then flow by gravity through a slip-in cartridge back into the tank. When its a canister filter you have, the output should sit about 1.5 to 2 inches below the water surface (fully submerged) pointed to the surface for better agitation.
When should I clean my canister filter for the first time?
You need first to clean your aquarium before you wash your canister filter. Clean your tank and wait for a couple of days, but most preferably a week, then you can clean your canister filter. You should avoid using tap water to clean your canister filter because the residue on the filter might harm your fish.
Is a canister filter better?
In conclusion, canister filters offer greater filtration performance for your aquarium than power filters. They have more filter media which means that more debris, detritus, and harmful chemicals are removed from your tank. A range of aquarium filter media is available for both of these filter types.
Which direction should my fish tank filter outlet be pointing?
There is no right or wrong answer to the question of which direction your filter outlet should point however I would strongly advise that the best direction to point it in initially will be towards the surface of the water.
Can you use lava rock as filter media?
Lava Rock is suitable for all marine and fresh water aquariums. Lava Rock Improve the filtering effect. Natural Red Lava Rock Ideal for Aquascaping but can be used as filtering media.
How long do Bio balls last?
How long do Bio-Balls last? Bio-Balls are made to have a large SA to encourage the growth of marine nitrifying bacteria. Once they have a stable poulation, changing them would leave you without all of the bacteria that had grown there. They should last forever.
How many bio balls are needed per gallon?
Excellent filtration media for bacteria colonization; each bioball is approximately 1.5″ x 1.25″ in diameter. 750 bioballs equal 1 cubic foot, and 100 bioballs equal 1 gallon.
Do I need bio balls in my filter?
Bio balls are used to hold the beneficial bacteria from your tank and not for removing waste products from the system. We recommend that these are used after the water flows through filter foam as the foam will catch and remove any debris from the water meaning these will not get stuck in the groves of the Bio balls.
Can a canister filter sit above the tank?
In practice It is very difficult to get a canister filter “above” the natural syphon point in a tank unless the impeller is above the water line.. as long as the water line is above the impeller then the canister will work just fine..
Should my fish tank filter be open or closed?
You need to open most filters to clean them so you can easily reach every part and clean it thoroughly. If you don’t do that, dirt or grime may keep building up, which can damage the impeller, thus resulting in a loud noise.
Should a fish tank filter be fully submerged?
Internal filters must be completely submerged in the water to work correctly. The air bubbles create much-needed movement in the water that allows it to filter the liquid throughout the entire tank. The filter can be affixed with suction cups to the tank walls, or placed on the ground of the tank.
How does filter media work?
They work in harmony and help keep a healthy, balanced and reliable ecosystem. Chemical media such as Poly Filter, are effective at removing a variety of impurities, such as copper, chlorine, dissolved proteins, medications, or tap water impurities by binding these unwanted materials and trapping them within the media.
Does carbon filter remove beneficial bacteria?
The carbon in a recirculating filter system will also act as a home to the beneficial bacteria that turn ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate.
