I am now using a Jebao 918 filter for my 2ft planted tank, think it is an overkill but since there's no use for this filter thus using it for the 2ft tank.
Need to know, what filter medium goes into the canister filter? I am using a very basic, coarse wool, fine wool, black sponge and ceramic balls put in the different tray.
Am I doing it right or is there something I should remove/add? I think the ceramic balls have to go cause it suppose to remove nitrite/ammonia from the water.
*Please note - I am a 'weekend' hobbist of planted aquarium, as long as plants is growing, fishes is alive I am happy already. I dun have any test kit or such. Thus please do not get too techincal with me please....
Black sponge: if it is not activated carbon that removes important plant nutrients, should be no problem.
Ceramic balls: are you talking about ceramic rings? They should be inert. And being porous, provides more surface area for bacteria colonisation. Don't remove them.
The stuff that removes ammonia is Zeolite. Not suitable for planted tanks.
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
The purpose of a filter is to:
1) polish the water in your tank, hence very fine filter media is necessary to do that and it is usually place just before the outlet.
2) provide sufficient surface area for the build up of nitro-bacteria colony to convert Ammonia to Nitrite then finally to Nitrate. Hence Ceramic rings or media that provide high surface area to volume is desireable. Eheim substrat is one example of a good media. In your case, ceramic balls will do. In fact most media will do that but having too much fine filter media instead of porous ones will occlude your water flowrate once too much detritus build up.
3) the flow of your filter outlet provides a stirring effect for your tank to facilitates the diffusion of nutrients and CO2. There is a trade of here, you don't want it too high neither do you want it too low.
What do you all think? I've noticed that some does not put any ceramic ring for their filter. Since bacteria colonise at almost any surface of the filter media, do you think that using sponges alone is suffice?
The Black sponge is suppose to help cultivate the bateria, so say the LFS. To me it provide no filtering purpose as the 'lobang' very big. Let's see how it turn out. One month and still going strong.
Thanks to those who have responded, appreciate it.
In short, filter in planted aquarium is to remove big debries and to cultivate bateria...
It really doesn't matter. Using a better surface area to volume ratio filter media allows you to use a smaller canister filter instead of a bigger one. Using sponge is fine but over time they degrade whereas ceramic rings can last forever. In fact, I think sponge has a higher SA:V ratio.----------------
On 7/30/2003 12:57:55 PM
What do you all think? I've noticed that some does not put any ceramic ring for their filter. Since bacteria colonise at almost any surface of the filter media, do you think that using sponges alone is suffice?
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I once DIY filter media using cut drinking straws, and bacteria accumulates too.
I remember something about using ceramic rings now, was told that it creates eddy current flow within the filter canister compartment. I don't know how that can help.
Eddy current? What's that? How much I hope you know!
Seriously, I don't know. I was probably smoked by the LFS to buy it. I was a rookie then.
I read at Eheim website (if I remember correctly), that the ceramic rings is to even out (slow down as well?) the water flow to the other sponge medias.
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
Look like the LFS was right after all. Ceramic rings before filters media have its purpose.
Read this to know eddy current helps.
agree with juggler.
basically to even/equalise water pressure before flowing to other filter media. this also prevents the immediate area around inflow from clogging earlier.
thomas liew
eddy current? if that is the eddy current i know, i can help simplified it. in NDI ( non distructive inspection ), eddy current is an electrical current used to pass thru an surface. any crack in/on the surface will register an iragular peak on the monitor similar to heartbeat chart.
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GOAL WITHOUT TIME LIMIT IS ONLY A DREAM.
Thanks all for your good info. So in short, it's still better to use some ceramic rings.
Eddy current don't just apply to electrical/electronic, eg in transformer. Water flows also got eddy current too.----------------
On 7/30/2003 11:01:47 PM
eddy current? if that is the eddy current i know, i can help simplified it. in NDI ( non distructive inspection ), eddy current is an electrical current used to pass thru an surface. any crack in/on the surface will register an iragular peak on the monitor similar to heartbeat chart.
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Thus the discussion leads to this,
1st layer - Ceramic Ring
2nd layer - Course filter
3rd layer - fine filter
4th layer - ????
err... what to add in the 4th layer??? like nothig else required liao leh
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On 7/31/2003 5:23:21 PM
Thus the discussion leads to this,
1st layer - Ceramic Ring
2nd layer - Course filter
3rd layer - fine filter
4th layer - ????
err... what to add in the 4th layer??? like nothig else required liao leh
----------------
1st layer - Ceramic rings or coral chips/chemical filter media (optional and when needed)
2nd layer - Course filter or ceramic rings
3rd layer - Course filter
4th layer - fine filter
It's really flexible.
Resistance is futile, you will be administrated!
1. Ceramic rings
2. Coarse sponge
3. Sintered glass
4. Fine filter pad
Its a good idea to put fine filter pad between 2. and 3. to prevent debris getting stuck in the sintered glass and rotting there.
Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Vincent, what's the purpose for sintered glass?
Daz, for some people, they do without fine filter, what they use is this:
1. Ceramic rings
2. Ceramic rings, coral(optional)
3. Biological rocks
4. Coarse sponge
Using fine filter to some are quite a bother since flowrate drops faster, requiring more maintenance. Usually, after running for sometime, your coarse sponge will somehow turn fine filter too. If flowrate is not an issue, than you may also consider this:
1. Ceramic rings
2. Biological rocks
3. Coarse sponge
4. Fine filter
Its high SA:V gravel like media - Eheim Substrat is sintered glass....----------------
On 8/1/2003 2:19:47 AM
...what's the purpose for sintered glass?
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