Penn Plax Canister 1000 Filter

[julielynn47]

I have purchased the Penn Plax Canister 1000 Filter for my new 75 gallon tank that I will be sitting up over the next few months.
 
I read the instructions and I know the bottom tray holds the foam and charcoal. The middle is just the foam and the top holds the foam and and coarse material that will be the biological media.    
 
1. I am going to assume that the foam is on the bottom of the tray with the charcoal on top of it because that is how my HOB filter works in my 55 gallon tank.   Is this correct?
 
2. It says the second tray contains just the foam. That is easy enough.
 
3. The top tray contains a piece of foam and the coarse material that is the biological filtration surface.   Okay, so does the foam lay on the bottom of the tray with the coarse bio material on top of it? Or does the coarse bio material lay on the bottom of the tray with the foam on top of it?
 
The instructions say that the filtration starts at the bottom of the filter and moves upward.
 
Believe it or not, these instructions were not included with this filter, or if they were, I do not see them anywhere. This is my first canister filter and so I have no idea about how to layer this media
 
 
Any help will be appreciated 
 
Thanks!

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I don't have the filter you have but I do have one with three trays that works bottom to top like yours. I also don't use charcoal unless I've medicated the tank and need to take meds out(though most meds may not even be needed). Anyway, the basics is that you want the cleanest water reaching the top where the biological media is. I use fluval prefilter media in the bottom, covered by a course sponge. Then I have a medium and fine sponge in the next tray. Then I have polyfil followed by the fluval biomax. I think I'm going to put the polyfil on top next time so I don't have to mess with the biomax as much.

The thing with canisters is as long as you know which way the flow of the water goes, they are highly adaptable. You can put in whatever you want and save tons of money. But like I said,the cleanest water should reach your biomedical. So aim for that. Hope this helps!

 

[julielynn47]

Okay thanks, that helps a lot!   I think the cleanest water would be if the biological media, that you never take out, were the last thing the water touches before entering back into the tank.  I also think it wouldn't hurt to have another foam pad in the 2nd tray. It only came with one in there, but it will hold 2. 
 
Thanks again! I feel better about it now. 

 

[julielynn47]

I have another question on the white foam media.  How often should that be changed out?  I mean, can you rinse it or does it just need to be thrown out?  I am wondering how long it lasts normally. I found a place where I can buy 36 foam pads for 36.00. It seems like a very good deal if a lot of them are used.  I have no idea how quickly they are used up because I have never had a canister filter before , and I have never used foam pads before.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Is the white foam for water polishing? Or is it just a sponge for filtration?

I just did a bit of looking....is this what you mean?

https/www.amazon.com/Bio-Floss-Cascade-Canister-Aquarium-36-Cartridges/dp/B00CBGJ80E


If this is what you mean, I use polyfil instead if this type. But, if you don't want the hassle of cutting your own, then this isn't a bad price. Basically this polishes the water...takes a bit more of the very small stuff out. Your stocking level will depend on how fast this gets dirty. Usually I just change it out. The rest of the sponges are very thick and durable so they can be rinsed, but the floss/polyfil is a bit more flimsy and can just be replaced. You can try to rinse it a time or two first just to see how it works. If it doesn't do what you want you can always change it out. I've only cleaned my filter once so far...but I think I will do the polishing part once a month. It was pretty dirty after 3! I'm still experimenting...lol. fairly new to canisters myself!

 

[julielynn47]

Yeah, that is the ones I was talking about.  I guess I will just check it and see how dirty it gets when I get it going.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

That's about all you can do. Each tank is different and so is its maintenance. Good luck when you get it going!