Filter Media Setup

[Dj-damo]

Hi All

I have just purchesed a new Eheim proffesional 2078 3e external filter but i am not to sure on how the media should be set up i have 4 trays and plus 2 slots for the pads.
The site reccomends (TOP TO BOTTOM)

1 x EHEIM coarse filter pad
1 x EHEIM fine filter pad
6L x EHEIM SUBSTRAT PRO
2L x EHEIM MECH

will this be sufficient enough for my 240l tank or is there other media that would be better and maybe last longer.

Many Thanks

Damien

 

[KittyKat]

I used to run the 2076 on a 215 litre tank, now running on a 420 litre!

So, I have it set up like this (bottom to top): porous ceramic noodles in bottom basket, porous ceramic balls (Substrat) in middle and top basket, polishing (fine) filter wool on top of ceramic balls in top basket, pre-filter (blue sponge) in the special basket above that.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Damien i have the same filter.
As Kat states, put the Mech in the lowest basket and divide your Substrat amongst the other three.

If you are cyclng and have any mature media, put it in with the Mech so that it seeds the other baskets.

 

[Dj-damo]

I was thinking of just running the new filter for 1 week on minimum flow rate while my aquamanta filter is running aswell. im thinking less stress on fish and no sudden change to water quality then take out the aqua filter???

is the substrate good for removing phospate, or do i have to get different media for that, im having major algea issues at the moment, i have the lights on for 4 hours a day now but i cant put my finger on whats causing it. main reason for buying the e-heim was that the aquamanta was allowing large particles to pass through the filter, then blocking up the spray bar!!!

 

[KittyKat]

If you do that, it's best to run them together for 6 weeks to be sure, or 4 weeks if you want to risk it.

Substrat does not do anything except let bacteria live on it. Do you even know what your phosphate readings are? What sort of algae is it?

 

[Dj-damo]

no,and its green hair algea

im going to go buy a phostpate kit to test this, im also going to go back to using RO water, i just didnt like leaving the tap running so long, i think it may be 1 reason why we getting so much algea?

I have just done tests for , ammonia, ph, nitrite and nitrate!! nitrite is slightly there and lots of nitrate so will be doing a water change today!! other tests were fine!!

will clean out filter and replace the phostpate pad again, so hopefully we shall see how it goes over the next week or so!!

 

[StandbySetting]

no,and its green hair algea

im going to go buy a phostpate kit to test this, im also going to go back to using RO water, i just didnt like leaving the tap running so long, i think it may be 1 reason why we getting so much algea?

I have just done tests for , ammonia, ph, nitrite and nitrate!! nitrite is slightly there and lots of nitrate so will be doing a water change today!! other tests were fine!!

will clean out filter and replace the phostpate pad again, so hopefully we shall see how it goes over the next week or so!!

Please do not add phosphate remover, it will only add to your problems and so will using RO water as it contains no minerals at all - this is detrimental to your fish. Leaving the tap running will do nothing towards causing or preventing algae.

The best way to get rid of Green Hair Algae is to do a black out and increase the flow of the tank, the filter you have bought should have done this, but run it along side the current one, you may want to invest in a circulation pump also, poor water circulation is generally the cause of most algae as ammonia stagnates in certain areas of the tank if circulation isn't sufficient, this will then lead to algal growth.

 

[Dj-damo]

no,and its green hair algea

im going to go buy a phostpate kit to test this, im also going to go back to using RO water, i just didnt like leaving the tap running so long, i think it may be 1 reason why we getting so much algea?

I have just done tests for , ammonia, ph, nitrite and nitrate!! nitrite is slightly there and lots of nitrate so will be doing a water change today!! other tests were fine!!

will clean out filter and replace the phostpate pad again, so hopefully we shall see how it goes over the next week or so!!

Please do not add phosphate remover, it will only add to your problems and so will using RO water as it contains no minerals at all - this is detrimental to your fish. Leaving the tap running will do nothing towards causing or preventing algae.

The best way to get rid of Green Hair Algae is to do a black out and increase the flow of the tank, the filter you have bought should have done this, but run it along side the current one, you may want to invest in a circulation pump also, poor water circulation is generally the cause of most algae as ammonia stagnates in certain areas of the tank if circulation isn't sufficient, this will then lead to algal growth.


I have mineral powder to put back In The RO water as supplied by local aquarium store. I'm only thinking that since we went back to tap water (with tap safe) then I started getting algea problems. I don't have the new filter yet as I'm waiting for it to be delivered. if I do a blackout would that kill my plants? Also have got new t5 light bulbs coming that have some sort of uv thing to help prevent algea growth. . How long do I need to do the blackout for?

Kind Regards and I really appreciate everyone's help on this.
Damien

 

[StandbySetting]

I have mineral powder to put back In The RO water as supplied by local aquarium store. I'm only thinking that since we went back to tap water (with tap safe) then I started getting algea problems. I don't have the new filter yet as I'm waiting for it to be delivered. if I do a blackout would that kill my plants? Also have got new t5 light bulbs coming that have some sort of uv thing to help prevent algea growth. . How long do I need to do the blackout for?

Kind Regards and I really appreciate everyone's help on this.
Damien

A 3 day black out wont kill your plants, but it will kill a lot of algae in one go, UV bulbs are supposed to go in a UV filter I think (link to the product?), UV rays are harmful to both us and fish, and only free floating algal cells will be killed.

 

[Dj-damo]

I have mineral powder to put back In The RO water as supplied by local aquarium store. I'm only thinking that since we went back to tap water (with tap safe) then I started getting algea problems. I don't have the new filter yet as I'm waiting for it to be delivered. if I do a blackout would that kill my plants? Also have got new t5 light bulbs coming that have some sort of uv thing to help prevent algea growth. . How long do I need to do the blackout for?

Kind Regards and I really appreciate everyone's help on this.
Damien

A 3 day black out wont kill your plants, but it will kill a lot of algae in one go, UV bulbs are supposed to go in a UV filter I think (link to the product?), UV rays are harmful to both us and fish, and only free floating algal cells will be killed.

The Bulbs have uv protection so this means that there will be no uv getting to the tank!!

 

[StandbySetting]

What's the point in buying UV bulbs then?

 

[KittyKat]

What's the point in buying UV bulbs then?

External ones: to hide problems in the tank, instead of solving them.

 

[StandbySetting]

What's the point in buying UV bulbs then?

External ones: to hide problems in the tank, instead of solving them.

I'd still love to know what the point of a UV bulb is if it's blocking the UV light it is producing, the company must be stupid!

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

The 'bulbs' i think you are referring to are different to the normal ones.
UV lighting used in fishkeeping has a different light wavelength. The light source is kept in a seperate unit or filter and is not exposed to the fish tank or humans. The water is circulated through the unit where it is exposed to the uv light source to destroy algae spores and other bugs.

 

[Dj-damo]

Hi All

So since my lst post i have installed the new eheim filter and all i can say is it is simply brilliant!! the tank looked so much better within 2 hours!!
i decided to replant the aqaurium with new plants and i have also upgraded to a 450l tank!! so i am going to keep runinng both filters and i have ordered a t5 lighting unit for the new tank as it came with t8.

I am using osmosis water again and so far no algea!! but i think my last tank was overstocked the main reason for getting a bigger one!!

i used this site for working out stocking levels (for some reason wont post so you may have to google) AQ ADIVSOR
and this is where i purchased the bulbs from originally but not using them now as will not fit in new unit. http/www.zooplus.c..._lighting/81506

woop!! ive even started using cuttings from my plants to grow new ones!!!! i have lost about 10 fish over the last few weeks, mainly new ones from an aqautic store that i wont be returning to. im guessing this will be down to the stress of changing over the tanks etc.

Done a test this morning all is clear except nitrate at about 20ppm. its much easier to manage this tank than it was the previous.
all the fish seem to be alot more active and happy with there surroundings!!!

Thank you all for your help!!



Damien

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