Filter Media For Planted Tanks

[thefishycouple]

I have a 30G with a Penguin Bio Wheel 200. As of right now, I'm using a 1" thick white padding from my lfs. My tank is moderately planted (15-20 Java Ferns, Swords, etc).
I have heard of people using no filter media or bio-balls, and doughnuts.
What are these and what do you use/recommend?
Thanks

 

[d3tained]

Hello there.

I would say the only issue with planted tank filter Media will be if you are using Carbon in your filter.It sucks up not just bad stuff but also food for plants.

In a planted tank a normal wool / cotton based media will be fine.

 

[thefishycouple]

Thanks for the reply.

I guess that's what I'm using.
The only PITA is that it gets pretty filthy in about a week or less. Wish there was another way.
Anyone knows how the bio-balls work and if they're any good for planted aquariums?
Thanks

 

[d3tained]

Hey.

Remember that the color the filter media gets, looks filthy to the eye but it contains allot of good stuff.Just wash it out in tank water every 2 weeks and replace like 20% of it working the old ones out over time with new ones.I rotate new filter media into mine that way.Works great.

 

[thefishycouple]

thanks for the idea. Only problem is that whenever i remove my media tons of dirt and small plant particles fly into my aquarium. so it would not be a good idea to rinse the media in tehe water. Just removing it makes the water very merky. i think its partially becasue i use the enriched substrate for plants. i was really looking to find a way that would help me avoid making the tank so messy. Does anybody know about the bio balls or donuts and how they work?

 

[excaliborg]

He means squeezing your filters out in a bucket of tank water which you have just taken out (mid water change).

 

[d3tained]

Thx Excaliborg

Yes that is exactely what i ment.You would have one very messy tank if you clean the pads in the tank itself.hehehehe

In order for no stuff to get into your tank when cleaning the filter do teh following.

Get a pipe the same size as a normal gravel vac and put it into teh filter and as soon as you have switched the filter off drain the water with the pipe and all the nasty free floating stuff in the water that is currently in the filter will get sucked up out of the filter into a bucket.

Then just take the media out and WALLA no mess.

 

[thefishycouple]

Good idea, d3tained. Will definetely do that.
Thanks

 

[Graeme Edwards]

A high bioligical mass is important for a plated aquarium.So Ehime Bio balls or like for like is great choice. The reason for this is that with having a high bacteria count, the bacteria brakes down ammonia and nitrates into a sorce of nitrogen, which plants will choose for thier first chioce of food.

Thats in in very basic turms.

R,
Graeme.

 

[Griz]

I have an Aquaclear 200 on a moderately planted 33gal tank and I just use 2 foam pads.

I don't go by the appearance of the media when making the decision to rinse it out. I decide based on the flow of the filter; when it becomes noticably slower, it's time to rinse it out. (About once a month or so) To do this, I unplug it and remove the entire filter and place it in a bucket of old tank water where I disasemble it, rinse the media, and give the filter a good wipe-down, inside and out. Every 2 or three times, I remove the impeller and clean that out as well. By unplugging the filter and taking it off the tank for maintainence none of the crud get back into the tank at all.

 

[thefishycouple]

I just did a 10% water change and used the bucketful of water to rinse off the pad. It actually cleaned off all the nasty stuff off of it leaving just the bacteria (I hope)
Thanks guys for the idea.