Help!

[justjon]

I've just started setting the new tank up, emptied half the water from the old one into it...

The pump started working, so I lifted the lid to check how the filter would work, basically.. its a sponge in the lid, with a spraybar across the top of it..

Can you guess what happens?

The spraybar sprays water into the sponge.. and just goes through the centre of it, and the compartment the filter sponge is in doesnt fill with water at all, so the sponge stays mostly dry...

Can anyone suggest anything? It's really strange ... I was expecting the compartment to fill up... I did try filling it manually, but it drains quicker than the pump can put water back into it.

It does actually say on one site "A complete aquarium system including pump, trickle filter system and lighting"

I've never ever seen such an odd filter before.. surely the filter media would mostly die off because its not got water over it?

 

[sted]

it sounds like the first layer of sponge is just to take away any debrie out of the water and not to act as part of the bio active.

 

[justjon]

I've had to put my Fluval 1+ Filter in instead and take the other one out, the heater also hangs out about an inch from the top of the water.. hope that's OK.

It was known as a "trickle" filter, the sponge was definately the bio sponge as it showed it in the instructions, rubbish design...

However, as far as the actual tanks concerned, it's very nice all setup and the platy seems a lot happier in there already (the other was mirrored and he'd hide constantly due to it)

 

[Liam50]

If thats an aqua one tank then yer thats how they are suppose to work. To be honest they are actually very good biological filters far better than your fluval 1+ as the filter in the lid allows oxygen into the compartment as its not under pressure like canister filters. I would run it, i have an aqua one 980 but i don't use the wet dry filter in the lid simply because the tank is in my room and the return woul dmake too much noise but if i could i would.

 

[justjon]

Hi its not an aqua one its a betta tank, but how can it be better if the spraybar water only goes through the centre of the sponge and the rest of it i dry?!

 

[justjon]

Bump, now more people are about can anyone else with experience add some insight?

 

[bae1994]

yeah but in the middle of the spone the water will extend out its much better for biological filtration as the bacteria needs oxygen and normally has to get the oxygen out of the water collum so this way they thrive ive got a similar setup and it is very good and if you feel you need to drill some more holes in the spray bar so it wets all the sponge

 

[justjon]

Thanks, is one sponge also enough?

I'll try keeping my old filter running for about 4 weeks with this one, then take the old filter out and monitor the levels.

 

[bae1994]

if theres room for more you could add more if wanted

 

[justjon]

Right, I drilled some holes and the water coverage is better (see pic below)... is this ok?


The only thing is, the pump seems to have a VERY strong current output.. it does have an aeuration tube on it which also pushes bubbles around the tank, but this is seems to make the current stronger and is very noisy, so i disconnected it..

Could I block the current output from the base of the filter so that it's not so strong? I can't see my platy or any other fish being happy being pushed around half the tank...

The other thing is what happens if theres a power cut? Wont the filter media die quickly due to no trickling water?

 

[justjon]

Would people just suggest I remove it and just use the Fluval 1+?

 

[elisew]

Would people just suggest I remove it and just use the Fluval 1+?

I did. Personally I think the filter system in those tanks are crap.

 

[justjon]

May aswell then I guess... it's such ashame they ruined a nice tank with a poor filter unit.

 

[bae1994]

its not a poor filter unit and is better than a fluval 1+ if your tank is full of crud floating around constant then yes go for the fluval but presuming it isnt as it shouldnt be then go with the original its much much better for biological filtration wich really is what you want it also will cope with mechanical filtration side of things

bio wheels are a perfect example of this

and sumps they allow oxygen to the media better and are used on marines wich often have alot more moneys worth of stock than fw tropicals

 

[justjon]

its not a poor filter unit and is better than a fluval 1+ if your tank is full of crud floating around constant then yes go for the fluval but presuming it isnt as it shouldnt be then go with the original its much much better for biological filtration wich really is what you want it also will cope with mechanical filtration side of things

bio wheels are a perfect example of this

and sumps they allow oxygen to the media better and are used on marines wich often have alot more moneys worth of stock than fw tropicals

So what happens if theres a power cut and no water gets to the media for hours?

Just curious.

I've taken it out as a Fluval 1+ is suitable for 40L tanks