Filter Woes

[neonoah75]

I have a little Whisper 10 HOB filter that came with my 10 gallon. I have no experience with any other sort of filter, but as far as I can see, the cartridges are junk! Just before I dozed off last night, I hear...DRIP DRIP DRIP...the filter was overflowing. My drip loop worked fine, but if I had fallen asleep, it would have been disastorous. Now the thing is, I did COMPLETE cleanining and maintainance just 2 weeks ago. Not only that, but I had rinsed the bio-pad and carbon cartridge in mature water just last week! (killing N-bacteria, I know, but I have sponge filters that pick up the slack). All I can figure is that there is mulm built up in the impeller housing, way down where I can't reach. My question is, will getting one of those little filter brushes (the ones that will go through the intake tube and all) solve this problem? There is NO visible clogging in any part of the filter or cartridge, yet lo and behold, it IS clogged!

I am setting up a 55 gallon tank tomorrow. I have a Fluval 205 canister filter that I was going to put on the 10 gallon, but I figured rather than buy another really good filter, I would put the Fluval (it's for a 40 gal tank) and the Whisper 10 (with custom media in a mesh bag) on the 55 gallon, and buy a bio wheel filter for the 10 G.

So in summary; I have a 10 gallon tank, a 55 gallon tank, a Whisper 10 filter (110GPH), a Fluval 205 canister filter, and whatever other filter I end up buying. Please tell me what you would do. (Bear in mind, if you hate Fluval, I will NOT take advice to throw it away.)

Thanks in advance for all your help and advice.

 

[rabbut]

Just to clarify, are you wanting advise on media or on changing the filters over? For changing fliters, you want arround 75% of the 10 gals media to go into the new 10g filter, if you are keeping it stocked, and the other 25% can be used as a filter seed for the new tanks cycle.
For media, the biowheel will have its own media included, and the whisper I belive is already kitted up with media?
The fluval;- the foam screens are included, so you won't need anything for the first stage of filteration. Bottom basket;- mechanical filtration, or foam filter as appropriate, middle bio-filtration, which is personal choise. You can choose from bio-balls, ceramic, foam or loosely packed floss. I would choose the ceramic, but different people have different preferences. Finaly, you have an all-rounder filter compartment. You can have tightly packed filter floss for polishing the water, further bio-filtration, or chemical media. Note; with a good maintanance shedual, chemical media is not necissary. I it were me, I would use the final chamber for further bio-media, but this varies from tank-to-tank and from person-to-person.
HTH
rabbut

 

[neonoah75]

Yeah, you got the gist of what I was asking. I am coming to the realization that unless you are going for a specific application, i.e., removing meds or ammonia or what have you, chemical filtration is for the birds. The problem with the cartridges in the Whisper is that I bought cheapo carbon inserts, the carbon gets clogged right away, and the outer mesh it comes in is no use without the carbon. And I don't like the regular Whisper brand cartridges. So I have ordered some filter pads that I can cut to size, some filter floss, some bio media and an aquaclear filter that lets you put whatever media you want in. I will modify what I need to to use custom media in the Whisper also. Then I will put the canister filter and the new Aquaclear on the 55 gallon, let that cycle and then switch the smaller filters when I move the fish over.

 

[Chrispixx]

The only filters I've ever used are the marineland bio-wheel's, i have five of them. I also have a marineland hot magnum HOB cannister which works well. I have one aqua-clear and i like that as well, it's quiet, you can put whatever media you want in it like two sponges, or a sponge and bio-media like Seachem Matrix in a bag which is what i have in mine.

The only problem i have with it is when you pull the insert for maintenance all the crud built up under it can go into the tank unless you shut it off, or use a fine net under the spillway to catch all the junk, which is what i do.