Tetratec Ex700 - Help Please!

[iankent]

The tetratec ex700 I've bought contains 4 baskets for filter media. The instruction book tells me to rinse them all under tap water and put them all back in.

What are the things in the plastic bags (little white hard tubes, and a bag of black stuff in a mesh type thing - assuming that one is carbon!)

Should I leave the black sponges (and the white foam thats in one of them) in there, and what about the little black balls in the third basket?

Also, whats the bag of hard white tubes, and do I need them?

thanks

 

[rabbut]

The hard white tubes are are Ceramic rings, that go in the bottom of the lower basket, to break-up the flow through the filter and reduce channeling. They need de-bagging and rincing before use. Rince the sopnges and the polly floss pad (the white "sponge") as these are your mechanical, and in the case of sponges, biological filter medias. The black stuff in the mesh bad is indead carbon. Stash somewhere so you can use it if you medicate the tank later.
The Plastic balls are bio-balls and are a biological filter media.

The bio-balls should never need atention. The caramic will need rincing in tank or tap water every 6 months or so to clear the large debris on them. Sponges are rinced in tank water every time the flow drops (every few months) and the white floss pad needs replacing also.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[iankent]

The hard white tubes are are Ceramic rings, that go in the bottom of the lower basket, to break-up the flow through the filter and reduce channeling. They need de-bagging and rincing before use. Rince the sopnges and the polly floss pad (the white "sponge") as these are your mechanical, and in the case of sponges, biological filter medias. The black stuff in the mesh bad is indead carbon. Stash somewhere so you can use it if you medicate the tank later.
The Plastic balls are bio-balls and are a biological filter media.

The bio-balls should never need atention. The caramic will need rincing in tank or tap water every 6 months or so to clear the large debris on them. Sponges are rinced in tank water every time the flow drops (every few months) and the white floss pad needs replacing also.

HTH
Rabbut

Thanks Rabbut! One more quick question - any particular place I should put my existing filter media, or will any of the baskets do?

 

[rabbut]

Id gat some in the place of the carbon, and the rest in the compartment with the double sponge. Doesn't realy matter a great deal though

 

[iankent]

I've put all the filter media in, used the button to fill it full of water, but when plugging it in nothing happens - does it take time to start up, or do I just have a broken filter?

if it is broken, I assume I need to get my media back in my old filter asap?

I've put all the filter media in, used the button to fill it full of water, but when plugging it in nothing happens - does it take time to start up, or do I just have a broken filter?

if it is broken, I assume I need to get my media back in my old filter asap?

lol, am an idiot *switched it on at the mains* works now

 

[rabbut]

Is the filter full of water? If yes, can you push the button to fill with water a coupe of times. Any luck? If no, take the top off and take out the Impeller. Give it a spin. Does it look like there might be an issue with the shaft, barings or the impeller itself? If no, re-assemble and try again. Does it work? If no, try changing the fuse. Does this work? If yes, great, if no, at this point you need to get your old filter going again, and return the new one to the shop for a replacement.

Sometimes air gets trapped in them and they refuse to start. That may be the only issue here.

Hope this works
Rabbut

Just seen you reply. Good, it's working.

You should see a real difference within the hour

All the best
Rabbut

 

[iankent]

Once again, thanks Rabbut - you're a walking fishlopedia =p will keep those things in mind in case it does stop working, but thankfully for now it was just my own stupidity

already starting to notice a difference, the water looks clearer than before but it still looks a little dingy as I havent got my light back on yet, so will know for sure later!

 

[lee_essex]

While on the subject of this filter, how often should i clean the filter? i have 106L tank.



ta

 

[rabbut]

I spent a while finding out how long I could leave it before it clogged. I can usualy do 6-8 months without a clean on my exturnals, and so pitch cleaning to arround once every 3-4 months. I'd wait untill you see a drop in flow, and when you see the drop, work out how long it's been running. Once you know how long it will go, half the time and time cleaning intervals with a difference of that length of time.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[iankent]

all up and running fine now - i wanted the spray bar above water level, but with my tank/lid it'd need some serious adjustments lol, so I'm gonna stick with it underwater! waters looking great already though - glad I got this thing!