jebao- help!

**kelloggs** · 29th Mar 2004, 10:31

Hi All

I am new to planted tank. Set up my tank 3 weeks ago. I learned alot from this forum but i have a few questions regarding filter and hope the experts here can enlighten me.

My tank is a 4ft x 1.5 ft (w) x 2 ft (H). I bought the tank from a wholesaler and managed to bargain for a Jebao cannister filter at half price. I was not at home when they helpfully set up the tank and cannister. Hence, I did not have the chance to meddle and discover what are inside the cannister. In fact, I still do not know what are contained inside. There are no instructions on how we are going to open the cannister and what is inside. I cannot remember the model number of my filter but from the box, it is stated that its capacity is 1200L/Hr.

My queries are as follows:-
1. Is there any article i can read regarding installation and dismantling instruction? if no, can anyone help me?
2. How often or how long before you guys wash the filter and what is to be done?
3. What is the filter media in cannister of this capacity? I understand Eheim reigns over others, can i use Eheim's filter media in a Jebao filter and what is recommended and how much?

I notice that whenever i change water, it takes at least 3 days to clear the cloudiness, and even after that stage, the water seems to be not 100% clear. Really envy those show tanks in LFS.. the water is cystal clear...especially the one in marine parade.

**vinz** · 29th Mar 2004, 12:19

1. Can't help you there. Try looking for a website... but I doubt there's one.

2. Every 3 to 6 months or a few days after major uprooting and/or replanting. Also, when the flow to have slow down significantly.

When you change water, save a large pail or two of the tank water. Rinse the biological media in this water. Don't use tap water... the cholorine can kill the beneficial bacteria. Replace the fine filter wool after a one or two re-uses.

3. Assuming the filter is similar to an Eheim in media order. From the top to bottom, ideally it should be:
- Fine filter pad/wool (2 pads)
- Sintered glass (Read the recommendationds of the actual product. There should be enough to form a complete layer inside your filter.)
- Coarse filter pad/sponge (Usually comes with the filter and is blue in colour. 1 is enough.)
- Ceramic rings. (About an inch or more, depending on your filter size.)

If there are any black-coloured filter media, remove them. Chances are they are activated carbon or something with the same function.

The sintered glass is the main biological media. A few brands to look out for are BioHome (my personal preference) or Eheim EhfiSubstrate.

Cloudy water that clears in 3 days... to me that is a bacteria bloom and indicates that your water change (chlorine/chloramine) killed off the beneficial bacteria in the filter. Do not change more then 50% of water in normal circumstances and always use anti-chlorine/chloramine.

**kelloggs** · 29th Mar 2004, 12:27

Thanks vinz for your prompt reply. For a 90 gallon or 300 litre tank, which Ehiem model should i get? appox how much?

**saltiga** · 30th Mar 2004, 08:29

[quote:9862828779="kelloggs"]Thanks vinz for your prompt reply. For a 90 gallon or 300 litre tank, which Ehiem model should i get? appox how much?[/quote:9862828779]

I suggest that you get Eheim Pro II 2026 if budget is a non-issue to you.
Cost around $270.

Get it from Y618, That Aquarium.

**vinz** · 30th Mar 2004, 09:49

[quote:6d

cb317a="kelloggs"]Thanks vinz for your prompt reply. For a 90 gallon or 300 litre tank, which Ehiem model should i get? appox how much?[/quote:6d

cb317a]

You should get a filter that has a flow rate roughly 2 to 3 times that of the tank capacity (i.e 600 to 900l/hr). If you can find 2 filters in that range, get the faster one. See www.eheim.com to see specs.

I'm not updated on prices.

**kelloggs** · 30th Mar 2004, 10:45

Thanks vinz and saltiga for the replies. I'm seriously considering an Ehiem as suggested, as my tank is still not clear, partly cloudy (sounds like weather forcast)

Vinz, you mentioned about 900L/hr, i heard from someone that we do not turn to the filter's full capacity in planted tank as fast flow is no good for plant. If this is correct, how do we gauge the flow. Someone recommended the knob halfway...

**vinz** · 30th Mar 2004, 14:11

Errrmmm... I've double-read through my replies, but I haven't suggested changing to an Eheim. I think you can keep the filter, but change the media.

The recommended flow rate for cannister filters for planted tanks is 2 to 3 times the tank capacity. 900l/hr for a 300 l tank isn't too strong overall. Some people may find the flow too strong at the output point. That can be resolved by splitting the output OR using rainbars. Devices connected inline, like CO2 reactors will slow the flow somewhat too.

I f you do try closing the valve partially, always close the outlet valve only, and never the inlet valve.

**kelloggs** · 30th Mar 2004, 14:26

Took vinz's advice, rushed to C328 during lunch to get BioHome. It comes with 300g and 1kg packages. Due to cost cutting exercise, chose the 300g but towkay said not enough for my filter. At the end of the day, got the 1 kg one and towkay gave me some discounts cos i bought lots of stuff.

Will add in BioHome tonite but i am still worried about the dismantling part.. No instructions and Jebao has no website at all!!!!

**james** · 30th Mar 2004, 21:58

Hi kellogs,

You may wanna try this website Jebao.

I bot a Jebao 918 some times back and too realised that there was no instruction manual nor warranty card. I wrote to them but till now no reply.

Just to share.

Regards.

**_Uncle Party_** · 31st Mar 2004, 02:41

the taiwan/china fish stuff...got come with warranty meh?

i was told at samyick those don't have warranties. but you can go back change if its like...a few days spoil.

which is why, i never go for anything other than the european equipment.

**kelloggs** · 31st Mar 2004, 09:45

Thanks james, i checked the website but no instructions!!!!

Anyway, armed with the recommended BioHome which i bought yesterday, I managed to dismantle the filter last nite. Quite simple in fact- close both inlet and outlet valves (if not your house will be a pond), clip out the four clips at 4 corners, lift up the internal trays...

To my surprise, although there are 4 trays, the supplier put in the filter with a layout, as opposed to the layout recommended here, as follows:
Tray 1. Empty
Tray 2. Cotton pad- duno hard or soft
Tray 3. Lots of Black balls like those in Co2 diffuser, and
Tray 4. Ceramic rings

I bought the tank together with the filter which is almost FOC. Installation done by them and i was not at home at that time to check out what was inside the filter. Until i found out from the helpful forumers here on what should be inside after making enquiry why the water still cloudy after 3 weeks. So now i have to "re-cycle" the tank again.

i have to go buy some cotton pad - soft and hard. Any recommendation where to get and what brand? i hope Jebao has a range of standard size s so that i can fit them nicely in the tray.. but i dun think so..what about ehiem wool??

Also, the other time, bought a "Nitri-Free" from Ocean Free.. Anyone try it before? it is supposed to take in Nitrate from the tank. I have not add this in the filter yet as the parameter on Nitrate is nil... The LFS told me to wash it thoroughly before introducing it in the filter as it is poisonous.. he claimed that his tank needs no water change with this product. Although i didn't believe, i bought it just in case there is a Nitrate spike. Nitri-Free is a carbon, which some said bad for plants.

**vinz** · 31st Mar 2004, 13:38

The black balls are suppose to be bio-balls for growing bacteria. I'm not sure how they work, but I don't think they have as much surface area to volume as sintered glass. Sintered glass will still be the better choice for a cannister filter.

Don't use stuf that remove chemicals (including ammonia/ium, nitrite and nitrate) in a planted tank. Use plants, controlled feeding and bio-load discipline to maintain you NO3 levels. In a mature/stable planted tank, ammonia/ium and nitrites should never be a worry.

For the fine filter pad, you can buy a large sheet and use the baskets as templates to cut to fit. You can find them at Nature Aquarium. Some of the other LFSes have it too.

For the coarse one, I reuse what comes with the filter.

**kelloggs** · 31st Mar 2004, 15:12

Thanks vinz, i took out the balls last nite as i also tot that they are not porous enuf. I bought some filter pads from a LFS and asked the shopkeeper why is my tank still cloudy after 3 weeks.. I ended up buying a Nutrifin "cycle" as he said my filter has no bacteria... er..what do u think?