Question About A Corner-filter

[akudewan]

I have sponge filters running in both my tanks, but the one in the larger tank is likely to break anytime soon. Before that happens, I'd like to establish another corner filter into the tank.

These filters don't have a powerhead, and work using the air from an aeration pump.

I have seen a good corner-filter that I'm thinking of buying. It uses media that is some kind of a wool, used to stuff teddy-bears. It gives good mechanical filtration, but is it good for biological filtration? Will bacteria colonise on the wool?

If yes, then when changing the media, should I cut up one-fourth of the old media and put it alongwith the new one?

Thanks,
-Aku

 

[The-Wolf]

It uses media that is some kind of a wool, used to stuff teddy-bears.

this is often called floss or filter wool.

but is it good for biological filtration? Will bacteria colonise on the wool?

it is a great mechanical filter, but limited in biological filtration

I use a corner box filter in one of my tanks
the bottom half has Eheim Ehfisubstratpro with a chunk of floss on top.
this way the floss can be totally replaced without effecting the biological filtration.

I only used Eheim Ehfisubstratpro as I had some to hand, you could use any bio media like Siporax(tm) etc

HTH

 

[akudewan]

Thanks Wolf. I'll use some bio-media at the bottom

 

[akudewan]

Another two questions:

1) How is a biological media "optimised" for housing bacteria? What makes it different? Could I use a layer of gravel in the filter and achieve the same result?

2) I've seen a media called "bio-ceramic" in my LFS. But its been in the showcase for over one year now. No one seems to buy it. Will it become useless since its kept for such a long time? Does it have a shelf life?

 

[yvez9]

biological media is just media with a large surface area
porous rocks, sponges, basically anything with a surface, wil house bacteria

the bigger the surface, the mor ebacteria it can house

gravel should be ok

 

[The-Wolf]

ak
look for siporax(tm) or similar
a bag (as sold) of siporax has the same surface area of two tennis courts.
ceramic media is good too as are bio balls.
you could use gravel at a push.

 

[akudewan]

Allrighty, thank you I'll try to get my hands on some siporax™

 

[akudewan]

Hey, I found a beautiful page about corner filters Here's the link: http/www.csupomona.edu/~jskoga/Aquariums/Cornerfilter.html

 

[Inchworm]

Hi akudewan

Thanks for posting that good link. It's one I used to refer members to often, but lost when my computer broke down last summer.

The wool you talk about is polyester batting. It's exactly the same thing as the filter floss sold at the lfs, but it often costs less in a fabric store. Just be sure that what you are buying is 100% polyester and not a blend with cotton or other material.

I use it alone, without charcoal or other products. It is an excellent medium to hold beneficial bacteria since it is composed of many, many strands. The bacteria cling to all the surfaces of these strands and a well filled box filter can probably support as many beneficial bacteria as the smaller HOB filters, if not more.

The ceramic bits are a recent addition to the hobby. I throw them out when they come with new filters and instead use the old fashioned filter floss, which has served me well for many years.

I usually have to add one or two small stones to weigh them down so they sink to the bottom of the tank.

The same filter floss can be used over and over with just a rinse in used tank water when the water passing through them begins to slow down.