Small To Large Tank..

[The Taffy Apple]

Good day to you all, Terry here from South Wales (UK).

I have a small 30L corner tank for about 6 months now, cycled it using household ammonia, all fish and shrimp doing very well. Anyway, it seems i have caught the bug and when the chance of a second hand 180L tank with 'Fluval 350' (http/www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Fluval_series5_manual.pdf) came from a workmate, i grabbed it with both hands!

I have the tank here now, not going to rush into setting it up as i wish to read up and FULLY understand my new set-up before any fish go in.... so, my question--> The one thing that has me a little confused at the moment is what and where to put my mechanical, chemical and biological filtrations within the filter itself.. the '3 tier' system makes sense to me, but can you recommend which product to use into which tier (lower, mid, upper)..? I have read many suggestions, but none from users of a tropical fish forum..

I ask this question as i would like to look into where i can the products for the cheapest price (understandably they have to be changed at certain intervals, so maybe i might buy in bulk) as soon as possible.

Any help highly appreciated,
Terry.

 

[Tizer]

You dont need anything but white media in all 6 compartments and if you are starting from scratch you might as well put 4 new sponges into the removable tray that pulls up and out of the container.

If the tank ever looks cloudy or nasty smells start to come from it or if you need to remove any medication you might put in it, then you would add the black activated carbon media into one of the trays for a few days, then remove.

If you use any products that are supposed to speed up your cycle, activated carbon will also remove this, so your just pouring your money away really.

You could help in speeding up your cycle by nicking a couple of bits of "dirty" white media from you other tank to help speed up the biological process, but dont nick too much, you dont want a negative effect on the other tank.

This white media doesnt need replacing, it can last for years. Once the tank is up and going you can clean the media in tank water and leave it doing its job.

Remove it all, or replace a small amount in a cycled tank and you remove the benefical bactera that break down the ammonia your fish and food waste produce.

Thats really about it. Hope it helps.

 

[KittyKat]

Well done, caught the bug already!

[...]a second hand 180L tank with 'Fluval 350' (http/www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Fluval_series5_manual.pdf) came from a workmate, i grabbed it with both hands!

305, you mean That's a suitable filter for a 180 litre tank. I used to run it on a 215 litre, for which it was a teeny bit too quick to get blocked up with plants, but I don't think you have any reason to worry unless you want a jungle where you can't see the back of the tank.

The one thing that has me a little confused at the moment is what and where to put my mechanical, chemical and biological filtrations within the filter itself.. the '3 tier' system makes sense to me, but can you recommend which product to use into which tier (lower, mid, upper)..? I have read many suggestions, but none from users of a tropical fish forum..

The water flows through the prefilter (the vertical sponges), then bottom to top. This is how I like to have this filter set up: prefilter (rough sponges which came with the tank) -> basket with porous ceramic noodles (I use the ones by Hagen) -> basket with bio-balls (I use Eheim Substrat) or porous ceramic noodles -> basket with bio-balls or porous ceramic noodles and a thin layer of extra fine filter wool -> basket lid and back to tank.
To speed up cycling, add mature media to the bottom basket (the first one).

I ask this question as i would like to look into where i can the products for the cheapest price (understandably they have to be changed at certain intervals, so maybe i might buy in bulk) as soon as possible.

I have used the same external filter media for 6 years in various filters, without changing it, and do not expect to ever replace it. I only add more as I get more external filters.

[...] white media [..]

What is "white media"? I have never heard of it..

 

[Tizer]

[...] white media [..]

What is "white media"? I have never heard of it..
[/quote]

I was keeping it simple, call it "BioMax" if you wish

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Highly appreciative of the replies guys, thank you very much for takingthe time.Makes alot more sense now... I'm starting to realise there is no correct way that is 'written in stone' when it comes to what to use and where (even crushed coral if PH is an issue, which it was at one point of cycling my 30L!), but mostly down to personal preference and situation.

How about....

Pre-filter/ Fluval #3 white sponge.
Lower/ Porous ceramin noodles (Again, Fluval 500/1000g)
Middle/ Fine filter wool, noodles.
Top/ Fine filter wool, noodles.

I have just been downstairs, thoroughly cleaned the tank and hosed it down quickly outside (again, it is thumping down here in sunny South Wales and i got soaked!), so hopefully after a little more research i will be ready to go!

One more quick question though (if you will), where should i place some of my bacteria filled sponge within the new filter (yes thank you Tizer, it is a 305 )...?
And thinking about it..which part of my existing sponge should i use (i have an Eheim aqua ball, lowest but one in size)...

Again, any help highly appreciated,
Terry.

 

[Tizer]

Sponges are generally a trap for dirt, they wont hold as much bacteria as the white ceramic media, or noodles as we are calling them now

Although that said im sure there is some in there that will help seed the new filter, so, applying a little logic, i would suggest putting it in the bottom tray on top of the noodles, as the flow of water will be upwards, thus any bacteria 'on the move' will rise and latch onto the noodles in the trays above it.

Good luck

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Sponges are generally a trap for dirt, they wont hold as much bacteria as the white ceramic media, or noodles as we are calling them now

Although that said im sure there is some in there that will help seed the new filter, so, applying a little logic, i would suggest putting it in the bottom tray on top of the noodles, as the flow of water will be upwards, thus any bacteria 'on the move' will rise and latch onto the noodles in the trays above it.

Good luck

Many thanks Tizer..i shall take your advice.

Just shopping around now on Ebay for the noodles and filter sponges... as it was second hand it didn't come with anything that is recommended to use.

Regards,
Terry.

 

[KittyKat]

[...] white media [..]

What is "white media"? I have never heard of it..

I was keeping it simple, call it "BioMax" if you wish

I was asking as I have white sponges, white non-porous ceramic noodles, white porous ceramic noodles and white porous balls..

Pre-filter/ Fluval #3 white sponge.

I would use whichever ones are meant to be made for the filter.

One more quick question though (if you will), where should i place some of my bacteria filled sponge within the new filter (yes thank you Tizer, it is a 305 )...?
And thinking about it..which part of my existing sponge should i use (i have an Eheim aqua ball, lowest but one in size)...

I would put it into the bottom basket. Any part should be fine.

Sponges are generally a trap for dirt, they wont hold as much bacteria as the white ceramic media, or noodles as we are calling them now

+1, which is why I suggested only the pre-filter and the polishing sponges are used. Pre-filter removes crap, polishing sponge (extra fine filter wool, thin layer at the end) is for removing any small bits which make it through the pre-filter and the bio-media. If you are not heavily stocked, both of these can be replaced or cleaned however you like as their purpose is not to contain bacteria. If you do go for heavily stocked, treat both as bio-media.