Filter Question

[erk628]

One of my filters is a Aqua-Tech power filter 30/60 double resviour. Now when I first set it up the only thing that I put in there was the bio fiber. Now it also came with two repalcement filters that have carbon in it. Now here is my question its been set up for a couple months and now one of my filters is pushing debris back in my tank. I'm thinking its this one. What I did was added the filters to the back right behind the two bio fiber. Is this what I am suppose to do I can't find and info on this. I just did this to see if it would get the debris out. The way I have it now is the bio fiber in front then the filters behind it with the carbon side facing the front and the filter facing the back. Is this the way it should be or not. I've been trying for days now to get this debris out of my tank and I'm trying everything. My other filter is a Aqua Clear 70 total for both filters is 600 gph. I have a 55 gallon tank. Someone please respond don't want more debris coming in because I don't have these filters in right. Thanks !!!


The instruction book says nothing.

 

[rockerBOO]

I am having a little trouble following, but if you are having debris going back into the tank, I would suggest cleaning the filters daily until you see that there is no backup debris showing up. I would do this by cleaning the filter media the water from a slight waterchange. Not really needed to scrub it but just a slight brushing should get all the larger pieces of debris off and then put it back into the filter.

 

[erk628]

First off I followed your advise and cleaned my filters again. Second sorry for the confusion, let me try again. First off I have a Aqua Clear model 70 3 stage with two sponges and a bag of bio max on the top. My second filter is a Aqua-Tech Power Filter model 30/60. My tank is a 55 gallon long. Both filters combined is pushing 600 gallons an hour. Now the Aqua-Tech, which came with the the tank. When I set it up I only put in the two Bio fibers. It came with two replacement filters, thats what I thought they were were replacement filters. But as I was looking at them tonight I decided to add the filters, so this is my set up with this filter. I have two chambers each as first the bio fiber in the from with the bio fiber facing were the water flow comes out right behind that I put the filters now these filters have carbon that can't be removed. I put these in with the back of the fiter were the carbon is facing the front (bio fiber). So facing the back is the blue filter. Is this right or have I done this wrong. Like I said I have had this set up for two months with just the bio fiber in it, I'm thinking that it got to the point were the bio fiber started letting debris back in the tank, That is how I got the idea to also add the filters. Any ideas. I'm up to try any thing to get this debris out of my tank. Have been testing the water every night and everything is fine.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I tried for 2 months to get an answere to that question. It is so hard to describe those filters. lol
I also thought I had them backwards. I finally contacted the makers. When you are facing the filter looking at the front you should have the bio filter there. Behind that is the carbon filter. Does yours have material on one side and plastic on the other? If it has the plastic on one side put the plastic facing the bio filter. If it is all fabric it won't matter. The fabric need to face the back to catch the dabris. That gives you mechanical then chemical then biological then back to the tank.
When you do water changes you need to gently wash out your bio filters. Running them alone lets them get clogged with debris with nowhere to go except back in the tank. Just dip and swish in the old water you take from the tank before you dump it. That will keep the good bacteria safe and get rid of excess debris.
I hope this has helped. Good luck.

You may also need to clean the impeller section. Mine sometimes gets a buildup in there that makes it not filter well and will throw debris also. You can tell when this is a problem by watching you pressure. When it starts to have less, clean it. Don't for get to put your bio filter in the tank while you are doing it though. You can just pull them and drop them in while you clean it then put them back when you are through.

 

[erk628]

Thanks for your reply, I have it right then. I got up this morning and still have debris in m tank. Its been like that now since Monday and reaaly is pissing me off. Hopefully I can get a caniaster filter this weekend and it will solve my problem.

 

[ICEEGRL]

Pull some water from the tank to wash the sponges and stuff in. Break down the filter and clean it with hot water. scrub down in the part where the impeller goes and the bottom inside and sides. Rinse well and put it back together. You can swish the sponges fairly hard and not hurt them. Just to get the funk out. That should fix the problem. It is not a bad filter, it just got too dirty.

 

[erk628]

Pull some water from the tank to wash the sponges and stuff in. Break down the filter and clean it with hot water. scrub down in the part where the impeller goes and the bottom inside and sides. Rinse well and put it back together. You can swish the sponges fairly hard and not hurt them. Just to get the funk out. That should fix the problem. It is not a bad filter, it just got too dirty.

Hot water would kill all the bacteria. I figured out my debris problem, I bought a lava rock several weeks ago, and it started releasing small particles of the rock in the water. I took the rock out and its starting to clear up.


PS: Sorry I thought you said to clean the sponges with hot water. After rereading it I seen you said the filter parts themselves. Anyways thats for your reply