Eheim Filter

[marcodigio]

Hello,
Joined the forum yesterday and been reading few topics. You guys seem very knowledgeable, surely more than my lfs.
I wonder if somebody would help me with a question about eheim filters.
About two weeks ago I bought a second hand tank and it was bundled with an Eheim classic 250 filter. The lady I bought it from said the filter was 5 months old and it has pads inside.
The question is.... how often those pads need replacing?
I have also noticed that Eheim sells pads and filter media? Which are best to fill the filter? What would be the difference in using one type versus the other?
Many thanks
Marco

 

[fluttermoth]

Pads are used for mechanical filtration; they just catch the 'bits' and don't hold many bacteria. You can wash them very aggressively, or replace them when they become clogged or thin and patchy.
 
Filter media (which could be plastic 'bioballs', ceramic rings or sponges) hold your bacteria and should only be cleaned gently in some old tank water. They shouldn't ever need replacing but if they do, you shouldn't change more than a quarter at one time to preserve the bacterial colonies.
 
Your filter should contain mostly filter media, with just a thin layer of floss/pads.

 

[marcodigio]

Thank you for your reply, now it's more clear. Would you know when you buy an Eheim filter how it would be filled by rhe manufacturer? I assumed it was filled with pads because the canister wasn't very heavy.... but I could be wrong!

 

[fluttermoth]

No idea on that one, I'm afraid, I've never owned an Eheim.

 

[matty1985]

Ceramic rings at the bottom then the blue sponge then little white balls then filter floss then you can add the carbon sponge ( black ) or you can add another blue sponge, I have 2 of these filters and they are great, to be honest you can put whatever you want as media goes but just make sure you have a large area for bacteria to grow .

 

[DrRob]

Essentially the principle of filling any filter is from coarse to fine mechanical, then biological, then chemical. With a few exceptions. The commonest exception is that the mechanical filtration is also the biological a lot of the time.
 
Floss or pads tend to be added at the end to "polish" the water, they're prone to clogging, which slows the filter and compromises everything else, so they're the thing that needs changing.
 
As an aside, you can get floss or pads for a fraction of the price that eheim will sell it to you for, although you may have to own a pair of scissors to cut it to size. I'm guessing that you already own scissors.

 

[marcodigio]

Yes I own a pair of scissors, but I need to ask the wife permission to use it! 
 
Anyway I have opened the external filter canister and noticed that it's filled only with pads. Some of them are white but most are blue. I think it's worth investing in a kit with substrat material. 
 
Thanks all for the advice

 

[DrRob]

Nothing wrong with foam of varying grades, perfectly acceptable filter media for most situations.