Silly question to ask..

[aquascaping1982]

Hi bro, just brought a Ehiem Ecco 2232 for my 2ft tank. Few question to ask...here goes my question.

1) How long would you guys wash the filter? 1, 3 or 6 months once?

2) There is a packet of substrate that comes together with Ehiem 2232, what is the use of it?

Thanks bro for answering my silly question..

[PeterGwee]

Monthly...keeps the flow rate up which is critical to circulation.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[|squee|]

That packet of substrate is actually meant to be biological filtration media. It's similar to the product Biohome.

In other words, it's filter media.

[aquascaping1982]

Ok now I know more about it..

[vinz]

Ummm... didn't you read the manual regarding the placement of the filter media?

Ideally clean the media very 3 to 6 months, however, I think most of us don't clean it until the flow is noticably slower, a major tank revamp, a major ecological disaster, or sudden and significant algae growth.

When you clean the filter, you can scrub all hard surfaces of the filter, hoses, etc with tap water. No detergent.

However, for the media, rinse them using tank water. Instead of draining the water into the drain during water change, keep 1 or 2 pails. Use that to rinse the media. Water straight out of the tap has chlorine, chloramine, and what not that will kill the bacteria you need in the media. The white floss, replace with a new one.

[aquascaping1982]

Sorry the manual didn't stated about placement of the filter media, that's why I came here to ask.

[zenscape]

Sorry the manual didn't stated about placement of the filter media, that's why I came here to ask.

Is your filter running now without any filter media in it? Or do you want to find out what media to place in each tray of the filer?

As regards the requirement of filter media, I think you had asked before and a discussion was made in this thread: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...t=filter+media

[aquascaping1982]

Is your filter running now without any filter media in it? Or do you want to find out what media to place in each tray of the filer?

As regards the requirement of filter media, I think you had asked before and a discussion was made in this thread: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...t=filter+media

Ya, my filter is running but I have not added in the bio media yet & I also want to find out how long normally you guys maintain or wash your whole filter..

[|squee|]

I leave it alone as much as possible... I only wash perhaps at most twice a year, and that's only of the mechanical filtration media.

[tonylai]

Ya, my filter is running but I have not added in the bio media yet & I also want to find out how long normally you guys maintain or wash your whole filter..

Some people actually says that filter the more dirty the better. As long as flow rate is not greatly reduced. I've got a 2231 that I clean once every 3 months or so. And my bioload is considered quite heavy.

[aquascaping1982]

ok thanks guys for your answer...

[cheetf]

By the way there is no such thing as a silly question

[vinz]

Sorry the manual didn't stated about placement of the filter media, that's why I came here to ask.

Hmmm... I was pretty sure it does. I have the Ecco 2231. Anyway, no matter. Maybe they changed the manual, because mine was from a few years ago.

The filter and the media should be washed every few months to prevent clogging and ensure optimum mechanical operation.

The "the dirtier the media, the better" is a simplified layman view probably perpetuated by illiterate, ignorant (no offense to these 2 groups of people) or lazy LFS owners. (No offense to TonyLai either, we only know what we learn, yes?) I think it came about because cleaning your filter too often or with chlorinated tap water will kill the filter bacteria. Maybe, they could not understand the difference between dirt and bacteria, so someone had to simplify the concept for them.

If you ever have to replace your biological media, only replace 50% at one go. Time is requried for the bacteria to establish themselves in the new media and the bacteria in the old media will continue the job while the new media is being colonised. Also the bacteria in the old media will help to "seed" the new media.