full biological filtration?

[tongyang]

Hi, read that ADA actually recommends going on full biological filtration without any mechanical filtration after 2 months for long term filtration. Haven't got the courage to remove mechanical filter media from my canister. Wonder which is better, leave the mechanical in there or not?

[mukyo]

Why need to remove mech?
Bacteria also lived in mech filter anyway. In those sponges.


tank v4.0 by mukyo, on Flickr
"... thanks will always be given for helping me..."

[daniel86]

i once remove my mech filter, all my ceramic rings/rod got clog. =(
But then again i am having RES heavy bio load

[felix_fx2]

You mean the white fine sponge or coarse one or remove both?

[tetrakid]

Basically, bacteria live everywhere in the tank. In the eyes of the bacteria, there's no such thing as mech or bio filter. There is only cozy places everywhere in the tank to set up their colonies.

But the problem is that accumulation of dirt on media in the filter body jams up the bacteria's abodes leaving them with little space to llive and for oxygen circulation. Then the colonies die off.

That is why I always use a ribbed sponge pre-filter attached to the inlet pipe. But whenever I have to clean the pre-filter, my heart breaks because I will have to sacrifice a nice colony (in the sponge) for the sake of good water flow to the other colonies to keep them thriving.

[tongyang]

Thanks to the responses. Just much baffled by their recommendation presented in the pic:


So they are talking about removing both the fine and coarse sponges, which I feel insecure about and wonder why they suggested so. Probably to prevent clogging and having better flow.

[diazman]

You can go full bio in the canister and hook up a pre filter stuffed with filter wool. Works in the sense, you will clean the pre filter only

[tongyang]

Thanks to all. I will probably, bravely try removing mech entirely in my next filter maintenance.