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2 x 2028
one for mechanical filtration (surface skimmer attached) and other for biofiltration (co2 reactor, chiller).
I was in a LFS last night getting cory..So, I ask him what filter best suits my new 5ft tank..He ask me to use a 2026.
Isn't 2026 a bit weak for a 5ft tank?
any Advise appriciated..
2 x 2028
one for mechanical filtration (surface skimmer attached) and other for biofiltration (co2 reactor, chiller).
Cheers,
Melvin Lim
That is what 1 of my fishing kaki ask me to do.Originally Posted by mordrake
2 x 2028
one for mechanical filtration (surface skimmer attached) and other for biofiltration (co2 reactor, chiller).
Which 1 is more important? the bio or mech?
I don't think it costs much more to get a 2028 and it is of a higher capacity with more trays for filter media than a 2026. Eheim is a reliable brand for filter.
Both bio and mechanical filter media are neccessary and equally important. We normally have a filter with both bio and mechanical media in one filter in different trays.
It is common for bigger tank owners to have the luxury of having 2 separate filters for each individual media. By doing so, the mechanical filter can be washed separately and clean more frequently, leaving the other bio filter intact and untouched.
Maurice Cheong
A . M o m e n t . o f . T r a n q u i l i t y...
What is good to use in a bio filter? Just the normal sponge that comes with eheim filters or there are better after market products?
For mech.. I m using CR n No1. clacium-menisium..Ok?
I donno why you guys are recommending 1 filter for mechanical filtration and another for the bio filtration because no matter what you do, you cannot prevent the bio filter to be choked. So we should use both filters for both mechanical and bio filtration, like what it is meant to be according to Eheim. 2 filters are better than 1 because you can clean out one of them at a time without killing all the useful bacteria in your setup.
Now I m getting a bit luan liao...
In a planted tank, your filters, your substrate and your plants are all bio filters. With 2 filters, you have the luxury of cleaning one at a time as Nicky has mentioned. Even when you clean one, you may wish to keep an existing "dirty" sponge in it, such that it continues to build bacteria faster.
Both aerobic and anerobic bacteria are helpful. Make sure you have good water flow in the filter and in the tank. This , IMHO, is more important.
"Now I m getting a bit luan liao..." I am not sure what this means, but maybe you are getting confused, is it?
And even so, while washing the filter media, do not wash too vigourously. Use only the tank water to wash it. It will result in a higher probability of existing nitrifying bacteria (beneficial bacteria -BB) sticking to the media. Tap water with all the chlorine will kill the BB.
I do not have a 5 feet tank, but I think a 2026 is not powerful enough. I have it in my 3 feet tank, and I think 3 feet is its limit. I remember once "Ranmasatome" mentioning about the beauty of over-filtration. (especially if your tank has high bioload).
Both the mechanical and biological filtration are important. Mechanical is simply removing the debris and fish waste from the tank. Biological is where BB will be cultivated to turn the toxic substance into less toxic substance.
(You can do a simple search on google; you may wish to refer to that simple random search: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-biological-filter.htm)
Cheers
Christophe
Luan means confused. Liao has no meaning.Now I m getting a bit luan liao...
So going back to clarify..
To me, there is no such thing as a purely 'bio filter' because no matter what you put in there, 100% biohomes or whatever, it is also going to double up and function both as a mechanical filter and biological filter. Vice-versa.. a filter stacked full of wool and sponges etc is going to double as both mechanical and biological filter.
In the so-call Biological filter, without the stuff like wool and sponges to block the dirt, the spores of the filter media such as biohomes are going to be choked pretty fast and when water movement through the spores start to cease, the biological filtration reduced or even stop because the bacteria die. In fact the instruction of one of the eheim biological filter media specifically states that mechanical filtration has to preceed the media to avoid a complete choke-up.
In the so-call mechanical filter, the bulk of the work will be the removal of dirt. However, the fact that water can flow through the media, and in the process the dirt are trapped by the media, means bacteria responsible for biological function can exist and function.
So in summary, I think you can declare a filter to be mainly mechanical filter. But a biological filter cannot be sustained in the long term and hence does not exist because you cannot command the dirt and fish-poo in the water to behave and go onto towards the inlet pipe of the mechanical filter and not into the inlet of the bio filter.
However, you can have a mechanical filtration compartment and a biological filtration within a filter. That's the design of most, if not all, modern filters.
quite true but with good prefilters, a 2nd canister can be almost a pure biofilter. it's all how you setup the equipments.
bio filter and mech filter are just general terms and not to be looked at purely as it is.
Cheers,
Melvin Lim
Nick,
How u use your 2 filters? In series or parallel?
I would reckon is in parallel??
Most filter do not have enough flow once the tank gets that big. It might be fine for a normal fish only setup but a planted tank definitely need more flow to get nutrients and CO2 across and around quickly. A sump setup coupled with a powerful return pump (quite a bit of models with loads of flow.) is a better way if the tank gets that big.
Regards
Peter Gwee
Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger
Now i m really super luan...
To make things really simple for you.
You can either use one powerful filter or 2 less powerful filters. But arrange the filter media according to the instruction from the manufacturer.
Why dont use trickle filter for 5 ft tank? Better than 2 or 3 external filters
It's not just "Step1: Add Water, Step2: Add Fish" If everything else don't work, add plastic plants and fish
so, what is good for a 5ft planted tank?
No answer?
Trickle filter is best for big tanks
It's not just "Step1: Add Water, Step2: Add Fish" If everything else don't work, add plastic plants and fish
For planted tank??
Hey Stephen, from your postings, I understand you already have a sump that comes with your 5 footer. If so, use that.
For those people who choose to use cannister filter and connect 1 of them in series, they can achieve a (primarily) mechanical filter (which is the first one in the series along the water flow) and a (primarily) bio filter (the other filter). Under this arrangement, the owner can choose to clean out the 1st filter very often without crashing the bacteria that thrives in the 2nd one.
I use 2x2026 in my 422 and they are independent of each other, ie, in parallel. I will be changing one of them to 2028 soon. Within each filter there is a compartment of 'macaroni' & wool and another compartment of biohome.
Nick,
I don't hv a sump yeah. But have some spare tank. Sitting around.
So, how the fishing trip? Want to go?
What is 'macaroni' & wool??
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