Filter Floss Replacement

[Olycius]

Hello, for my 120g tank I am currently using x2 75 gallon Aqueon quietflows for filtration. I have had the tank going for a little over 3 months now, and am finding purchasing a lot of filter cartridges. I've done the math and I'm doing about $2.50 per cartridge doing 4(2 per filter) about every 2 weeks, which adds up. I've been looking at switching over to filter floss as it would lower it to $1.10 and I can make a bunch at once(link below). My question is, for sowing filter floss, what is safe to use, and are there any major cons to switching over? I would like to put some carbon and possibly some other stuff in between the filter floss as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AHHN4VW/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[Byron]

Packaged filter media made as replacement for filters is expensive, and when it comes to the white floss you can use just about any product made for aquarium filters. I buy rectangles of filter floss from a local aquarium store and cut "pads" to fit my Eheim canisters. I find that the white filter floss is best replaced when you clean the filter, as it doesn't rinse out very well and tends to lose shape.

As for using carbon or similar in between...unless the carbon is somehow "captured" it will probably disseminate with the water movement and end up everywhere. You can buy various sized filter mesh pouches for carbon and similar.

The value of carbon is variable; some use it, many do not. Same with any form of chemical filtration. If you have live plants I would not bother with anything like carbon.

Byron.

 

[Olycius]

Packaged filter media made as replacement for filters is expensive, and when it comes to the white floss you can use just about any product made for aquarium filters. I buy rectangles of filter floss from a local aquarium store and cut "pads" to fit my Eheim canisters. I find that the white filter floss is best replaced when you clean the filter, as it doesn't rinse out very well and tends to lose shape.

As for using carbon or similar in between...unless the carbon is somehow "captured" it will probably disseminate with the water movement and end up everywhere. You can buy various sized filter mesh pouches for carbon and similar.

The value of carbon is variable; some use it, many do not. Same with any form of chemical filtration. If you have live plants I would not bother with anything like carbon.

Byron.

Are canister filters worth it? I looked into running one on my tank, but have not researched enough.

 

[Byron]

Are canister filters worth it? I looked into running one on my tank, but have not researched enough.

I have always had a canister on my larger tanks, meaning my 4-foot 70 and 90g and 5-foot 115g. For smaller tanks (3 feet length and under) I use sponge filters. I have live plants in all tanks, so I never need chemical filtration and the filter is mechanical (and biological obviously) with water flow. The latter is the most important aspect, as fish have differing needs in current and the filter is the usual means of supplying flow. So the fish species also impacts the type of filter.

One of the myths in this hobby is that more or larger filters are "better;" nothing could be further from the truth, unless the tank is way overstocked or there are biological issues that more filtration may help with. Too much filtration, which usually means too strong a water flow in the tank and through the filter, can be more detrimental than beneficial. Depends upon the fish species and numbers, and live plants.

 

[Olycius]

I have always had a canister on my larger tanks, meaning my 4-foot 70 and 90g and 5-foot 115g. For smaller tanks (3 feet length and under) I use sponge filters. I have live plants in all tanks, so I never need chemical filtration and the filter is mechanical (and biological obviously) with water flow. The latter is the most important aspect, as fish have differing needs in current and the filter is the usual means of supplying flow. So the fish species also impacts the type of filter.

One of the myths in this hobby is that more or larger filters are "better;" nothing could be further from the truth, unless the tank is way overstocked or there are biological issues that more filtration may help with. Too much filtration, which usually means too strong a water flow in the tank and through the filter, can be more detrimental than beneficial. Depends upon the fish species and numbers, and live plants.

What would you recommend for a 120g? Have you heard of sunsun, and what would be a reliable brand that isn't too expensive?

 

[Byron]

What would you recommend for a 120g? Have you heard of sunsun, and what would be a reliable brand that isn't too expensive?

The first factor is the intent of the aquarium, the aquascape intended and the fish species. As an obvious example, if you have African rift lake cichlids with a wall of rock, a stronger filter would be better than the smaller filter that would be better suited for an Amazonian tank of small fishes with plants and chunks of wood.

I don't know anything about the Sunset (Lee) filters. In canisters, I have used Eheim Pro II and Rena Filstar (Rena is now manufactured by API). My two Eheim canisters have been running since 1996 and 1998 without any problems; Eheim are expensive, but they have the track record to substantiate it. I sold my Rena after five years and it was still working fine, but I would be surprised if it lasted 20+ years without any issues.