Canister water filter media

[Aqua_ikebana]

Hi, being new to the aqua scaping hobby, I need advise on the type of filter media to use in a canister filter I just purchased.

There is 2 drawer in my canister filter. I had currently placed bio-balls and filter form on the top level and ceramic filter with charcoal filter bag on the bottom level.

Is this a good combination for planted aquarium?

Thanks.

[vinz]

Carbon is not a good media for planted tanks as it will absorb trace elements and deprive your plants.

A typical canister setup for planted tanks:

Fine Filter Floss/Foam/Pad (top)
Sintered glass (Eheim, BioHome, Generic. Make sure you don't end up with zeolite)
Coarse Filter Pad
Ceramic Rings (Bottom)

[Allen_1971]

Firstoff, this belongs in the equipment section... so i'll move it there after this...

As for filter media, it generally is broken down into 3 forms.. mechanical (filter wool), chemical(carbon, zeolite), and biological(sintered glass, bioballs)... for a planted tank, we usually stick to mechanical and biological filtration...

[Osprey]

Hi, as novice as Aqua_ikebana, I am also quite confused about the media to be placed in the filter as well. I have using an Eheim 2233, and a carbon filter pad came with it. Do I use it?

Also, Chan from NA gave me a pack of Bio Rings, are they the ceremic rings that you are talking about? If that's the case, I will still have to get the sintered glass or bioBall, where can I get them and what's their usual price? Thanks in advance.

[PeterGwee]

Do not use the carbon pad that came with the 2233..(black pad). The bio rings will do just fine for your bacteria colony to build on it and do not need to get other more stuff other than filter floss to clean up the small particles in the water.

[hoppinghippo]

What I do is from bottom up:

coarse filter, fine filter floss -->1st tray
ceramic rings (biopur or something), coral chips---> 2nd tray

my reasoning is that the dirt should be filtered off first in the first tray, so that it doesn't clog up the 2nd tray which is meant to be pure biological filtration.

[nivlekx]

Actually the arrangement also depends on the model of the filter that you have. Like my Resun filter lets water filter through in a top down fashion. Whereas, Eheims and Atmans filter through a bottom up fashion.

Rule of thumb is coarse filtration comes before any bio-filtration.

[lorba]

Everyone got their own ways... but i don't think canister filter can help much in removing 'physical' waste all around that tank, so we are left with floating particles in the water column and those beneficial bacteria.

Particles easily removed by floss, i think the finer u use, the more frequent u need to maintain. Beneficial bacs. can rely on bio balls, ceramic rings etc. I didnt care much about arrangement.. just a layer of floss between every thick layer of rings and balls.

Being a lazy and busy guy, i haven't touch my filter for 2mths already, hopfully it can tahan for another 2mths without much clogging.

[filterdix]

Hi, being new to the aqua scaping hobby, I need advise on the type of filter media to use in a canister filter I just purchased.

There is 2 drawer in my canister filter. I had currently placed bio-balls and filter form on the top level and ceramic filter with charcoal filter bag on the bottom level.

Is this a good combination for planted aquarium?

Thanks.

I think that is good combination already ... try this one guys... http://www.aquatichouse.com/FILTRATI...eheimmedia.asp hope this may help you a little...


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Cuno Filters

[bossteck]

Dude, you dug up a 2003 thread!