I have an extra canister filter and I was thinking of felling it all with bio media
do you think this is a good idea?
do you think this is a good idea?
all bio media in a canister
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Howdy,
The advantage of mechanical filtration upstream of biomedia is that you won't have to disturb the biomedia quite as often. Most often, mechanical filter media are much cheaper. By using biomedia only, you a) waste money and b) it might clog up faster than mechanical media, depending on type.
HarleyK
The advantage of mechanical filtration upstream of biomedia is that you won't have to disturb the biomedia quite as often. Most often, mechanical filter media are much cheaper. By using biomedia only, you a) waste money and b) it might clog up faster than mechanical media, depending on type.
HarleyK
Bio only canister is actually a common setup and has been around for a long time.
Just make sure to use fine filter pad before and after the bio media. The first layer is to catch gunk before it hits the bio media and the layer before the head unit is to protect the impeller.
Just make sure to use fine filter pad before and after the bio media. The first layer is to catch gunk before it hits the bio media and the layer before the head unit is to protect the impeller.
I agree with both of these statements, sort of.
You will need at least some mechanical filtration to keep from cloggings the biomedia. It will be more expensive to fill more area with biomedia but if this is just a "spare" filter you can go cheap by using a mix of unglazed flowerpot and lava rock fragments. It is not as effective as bioballs,etc, but still works pretty well and is cheap. That is what I do with DYI in-pond filters, after all 30 gallons of bioballs would cost a mint but that much in lava rock fragments and broken flower pots costs a few bucks.
You will need at least some mechanical filtration to keep from cloggings the biomedia. It will be more expensive to fill more area with biomedia but if this is just a "spare" filter you can go cheap by using a mix of unglazed flowerpot and lava rock fragments. It is not as effective as bioballs,etc, but still works pretty well and is cheap. That is what I do with DYI in-pond filters, after all 30 gallons of bioballs would cost a mint but that much in lava rock fragments and broken flower pots costs a few bucks.
I use the 'bio-loaded' canister filter method all the time. I just put the sponge 'pre-filter' on the intake of the canister, as well as a fine pre-filter inside the canister. This way, I only have to do regular weekly maintenance on the pre-filter inside the tank, and I don't have to break open the canister and make a mess each week.