Switching Over Mature Media

[stuuk1]

Ive finally received my Juwel Rio 240. Im looking to swwitch over my mature media to the new filter system. My old filter system only contained a white sponge and also a carbon sponge.

The instructions say this:

5. Now start preparing the filter sponges by removing the plastic packaging from the
carbon sponge and the nitrate remover sponge and the Cirax filter medium. Thoroughly
rinse the blue filter sponges only under running water.
6. After this, insert the blue "fine" filter sponges and the Cirax filter medium into the
lower filter basket. Following that, place the blue "rough" filter sponge, the green
nitrate remover sponge, the carbon sponge, and filter wool in the top position into the
upper filter basket and push both filter baskets into the filter housing.

My question is this, where do I place my own mature media? In between what sponges? Or possibly what sponge do I remove from the filter and replace with my own?

Thanks!

 

[Tolak]

When doing this I've always tried to put the mature media first in the path of the water flow. To me it makes sense that it would transfer & colonize easier that way, and it's always worked.

 

[stuuk1]

Do you think I should remove the fine white filter from the top and just plonk mine of the top of that?

 

[Tolak]

Sure, if it fits and is first in line to get the water flow.

 

[ian]

u used my mature media in my Juwel filter, i placed one lot under the white polypad and the other lot inbetween the 2 filter carriges (the ones with handles). I personally would keep the polypads as the do polish the water quite well and if your setting the tank up, then you'll need the polypads in.

 

[stuuk1]

Great advice guys, and thank you very much. Just finished filling the thing up, took a hell of alot of buckets....

Looking amazing tho! If either of you have the same tank as I do then what do you use as a source of oxygen for the plants (bubble maker)? My old tank had it built in with the pump but this one I have doesnt seem to. I have the Bioflow 8.0 I think.

 

[OldMan47]

If you are getting good water flow in your tank from the filter, you do not need anything else to introduce oxygen into the water. It will even provide a small amount of CO2 traces that will benefit the plants. If you start getting serious about growing plants, many of the methods require far more CO2 than you can get from gaseous exchange at the water's surface.

 

[stuuk1]

After I posted my last comment I did a little research in to it. And found that I didnt need it, so im not going to bother.

Ive bought a large piece of bogwood today which is currently soaking. I asked about possibly planting on it with some javafern etc but nowhere has any of the stuff!

My tank looks completely empty at the mo and hope to find some large plants soon, the only ones our LFS sell are tiny potted plants. I have gravel in my tank and apparently it wont root properly, hmmm.

Hopefully it will take shape at some point!