External Filter Question

[Aqua Tom]

i picked up my lovely 180 litre tank today. Its awsome. It has come with an Eheim Ecco 2236 external filter. I took it apart & it has no filter media inside, but a shed load of trays. Only being used to internal power filters i am at a loss as what to put in it.
Do i have to buy from the manufacturer or can I stick any media I want in.

Also what do medium you recomend for a fishles cycle?

 

[the biffster]

i picked up my lovely 180 litre tank today. Its awsome. It has come with an Eheim Ecco 2236 external filter. I took it apart & it has no filter media inside, but a shed load of trays. Only being used to internal power filters i am at a loss as what to put in it.
Do i have to buy from the manufacturer or can I stick any media I want in.

Also what do medium you recomend for a fishles cycle?

you don't have to use makers
media ceramic rings or noodles
as they call them is there a sponge
with the filter or not if not you will
have to go with the makers choice for that
instead of ceramic rings you could use alfagrog
this is a form of sintered glass and very porous
with a high surface area

 

[Aqua Tom]

There is absolutely no sponge or anything in it lol. I have some ceramic rings knocking about somewhere, All i need now is the sponge. Could I just add the rings & start the cycle, then add extra media as I go?

 

[the biffster]

There is absolutely no sponge or anything in it lol. I have some ceramic rings knocking about somewhere, All i need now is the sponge. Could I just add the rings & start the cycle, then add extra media as I go?

i would get a sponge before you
start it is a main part in the filter
as its were the bacteria colonise
first

 

[Vidster]

This site tells you exactly what media to use inside. I can't see any ceramic rings in there at all.

 

[the biffster]

This site tells you exactly what media to use inside. I can't see any ceramic rings in there at all.

ceramic rings or noodles
the same as
EHEIM high performance ceramics
EHEIM substrat

 

[Aqua Tom]

I have orderd two sets of sponge, course & fine. I already heave the noodles. Anything else required?

 

[the biffster]

if you have spare compartments
some filter floss to polish
your water maybe a nitra zorb
to reduce nitrate [that's only a suggestion]
or carbon or peat [only a suggestion ]
or maybe just some more ceramic rings
they would never go a miss i had one
filter full of rings and one sponge

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ok so whats the order from bottom to top? I am thinking course on bottom, getting finer the ceramics on top?

 

[the biffster]

i always used to go
sponge on top floss and
stuff like that in the middle
and rings at the bottom

 

[Aqua Tom]

Just had a peruse if the instructions & it says the 2236 (this is the one I got) is for tanks up to 300 litres, where as its lil bro the 2234 is up to 200 litres.

My tank is 180 litres.

Am I over filtered? Is there such a thing?

 

[the biffster]

Just had a peruse if the instructions & it says the 2236 (this is the one I got) is for tanks up to 300 litres, where as its lil bro the 2234 is up to 200 litres.

My tank is 180 litres.

Am I over filtered? Is there such a thing?

there's no such thing

 

[Aqua Tom]

Is a spray bar a worthwhile inestment?

 

[the biffster]

yes i would say

 

[onebto]

Is a spray bar a worthwhile inestment?

Great way of controlling your water flow back in to the tank

regards onebto.