Am I doing this right?

[thrillbillie12]

About two months ago I came across the Rena xp3 canister filter on amazon for $100 USD. I couldn't pass it up. It has been up and running for two months now on a 72 gallon tank. I test about twice a week with the api master kit I ordered with the filter. Seems to be doing its job very good. My question is with my media choice.

The very bottom tray is just filter pads and fiber.



The middle tray I stacked about 25 api bio stars and filter balls (if that's you call then?)



The last tray is ceramic rings,
actived carbon, and the api chem bag that came with the filter.



Is this a proper set up? I know a lot depends on what fish you are keeping. I will list the stock at the end. Is there an optimum set up for what meadow you use?

Stock is two Cory cats. A 4 line cat fish. A upside down cat. A Oscar. A venne pike cichlid. And a African cichlid.

I know that the Oscar, pike, and 4 line will grow far to large to live in this tank full term. I have an empty 150 that is in the process of being re sealed and cleaned up.

And a full canister shot
Sent from my HTC One X using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[doomiedee]

IMO that bio setup will be suitable for what you are stocking.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[ehh]

looks fine to me. the beauty of most canister filters is you can do whatever works for you and your fish. in my xp3 i have a tray filled to the top with polyfiber and other two trays are full of biomax.

edit. i also picked one up off amazon for 100 bucks lol.

 

[thrillbillie12]

IMO that bio setup will be suitable for what you are stocking.

I'm half confident with the bio setup. This is my first tank in about four years. My old 55 gallon I ran two hob filters with bio only. I have never used filter pads or chemical filtration. This is my first time with new media and a canister. I just don't know what I think about it lol.

Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Sent from my HTC One X using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[doomiedee]

Sent from my HTC One X using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

I've always run mechanical and bio never really chemical unless needed to. I've used just about everything in your canister in one way or another I'm pretty sure your safe for your stock.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[ehh]

then take the carbon out and replace it with biomedia. i dont use carbon in any of my tanks. just polyfiber and biomax.

 

[thrillbillie12]

What ate the advantages of carbon. I've done a few searches but every body seems to say the same few things. Same with chemical.

A better question is what disadvantages are there with using it?

A side note, I also have about 7 live plants. Two were bought already grown and the rest were just bulbs I bought and put in the sand to try and grow.

Sent from my HTC One X using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[ehh]

carbon removes a lot of discoloration and odor. it also sucks up ammonia and nitrite.

but you do the same thing when you do water changes. i do two 30-40 percent water changes a week on my tanks and the ammonia and nitriate stay at zero. the water never smells. the only discoloration i get is from mopani wood, which i personally dont mind.

 

[thrillbillie12]

So if I'm already doing two 25-30% water changes a week and I'm that over filtered, it makes much more sence to dutch the carbon and chemical for for bio.

And with tank maintenance being almost every other day for me, how often should I clean out the filter? Today was the first time for it. And like I said, that's after two months of running. Is this to long of a wait to clean them?

Sent from my HTC One X using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[ehh]

i would get rid of the chemical stuff, that includes carbon. and just replace it with more biomedia or more polyfiber. cleaning out the filters though depends on your stock. in my 75, that has a single xp3 running, all i have in there is a lone red devil. i could get away with cleaning the filter every three or four weeks.