Juwel Bioflow Filter.

[dissimulo]

Hi all,

I should soon be fetching a Juwel Rio 125 aquarium, supplied with all standard components. Due to the guy having discarded or re-homed the original mature filter medium, I'm going to have to replace it myself. As far as I'm aware, the Juwel Bioflow filter systems use the following filter medium: coarse blue sponge (general mechanical filtration), fine blue sponge (fine mechanical/mediocre biological filtration), coarse carbon sponge (mechanical/short term chemical filtration), fine green sponge (mediocre biological/short term chemical filtration), white filter wool (more effective short term mechanical filtration) and ceramic rings (biological filtration).

The above image shows Juwel's recommended set of filter medium. I won't be adhering to the change-over recommendations as they are designed for maximum profit, disregarding filter efficiency.

In short, what do you think the most effective set of medium might be for a long term set-up?

Luke.

 

[scotty]

i changed the green more ceramic,and removed the carbon for a course blue one
works great
cheers

scott

 

[dissimulo]

Okay, cool. Thanks. How often do you change your medium?

Luke.

 

[fluvial]

I kept the medium supplied by Juwell as it is - and it seems to work fine.
I replace the white pad on the top every month, and just rinse the remainder in
old tank water every month.
I've been doing this for the past year and it seems to work fine like that.
I have no intention of changing any of the coloured sponges as they are all in perfectly good
condition after 12 months.
And full of lots of beneficial bacteria

 

[JoshuaA]

Okay, cool. Thanks. How often do you change your medium?

Luke.

I'm guessing he probably hasn't, especially if it is the ceramic. Like you said yourself its a money grabbing situation for them. You should only change them if they're literally falling apart.

 

[dissimulo]

I see, thanks. I think I'm going to replace the carbon and green sponges purely because A) they affect a cycling tanks water chemistry and B) they become saturated with ammonia/nitrate after a few months, rendering them nothing more than bonus mechanical filtration. I think I'll use a second ceramic ring container and a second fine blue sponge instead, topped by the white filter wool.

As for the change-over, the idea of not doing so until absolutely necessary is good. It makes sense with regards to the established bacteria colony.

I'm still open to suggestions.

Luke.