would this be a good choice? http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3587+18367&pcatid=18367 just need to get a pump for the return.
BEST way to add more bio filtration?
- Thread starter iloveoscars702
- Start date
in the mean time go get a large sponge filter and run it off an airpump, they dont look good but pack loads of bb. I recently have done this and my water params are perfect
bradleyagregg;4151769; said:
i was actually thinking of hooking one up to my powerhead. but wasnt sure how effective they are.
I have a hard time believing your 4 filters not being able to process all the ammonia in your tank.
How long since your last water change was the ammonia test? Have you tested your tap water for ammonia, with the temps rising water companies will be adding chloramine to the water supplies.
How long since your last water change was the ammonia test? Have you tested your tap water for ammonia, with the temps rising water companies will be adding chloramine to the water supplies.
It is very important to have adequate mechanical filtration prior to bio media.
The reason ceramic noodles and the like have exceptionally high surface area is because they are filled with very tiny pores. If you do not adequately offer mechanical filtration to the water passing through the bio media these pores will get clogged thus drastically reducing the effective surface area of the bio media...
Thus a filter filled with bio media and no mechanical media will very likely be able to house less bacteria than the same filter with 25% mechanical media and 75% bio media.
In theory, wet/dry filters will oxidize ammonia/nitrite mroe efficiently than submerged media. But I am not so convinced of this. I understand quite well that our bacteria utilizes oxygen in it's metabolizing process, but just because you give it more than it needs doesn't in any way allow it to use the extra.
Wet/Dry filters became popular in Salt Water aquariums (salt water holds less oxygen than fresh) with very little surface agitation (oxygen enters water with surface agitation) run at higher temperatures (warmer water hols les oxygen). Thus under these conditions, the oxygen content of the water may suffer and the Wet/Dry approach is in fact more useful. But in the well oxygenated environments of our fresh water tanks, Wet/Dry filtration is more of a marketing tool than a filtration benefit.
Sure there are some situations where a Wet/Dry is beneficial, but we should not assume this is true in all cases.
If you want to fill your AC 110s with bio media, be sure to use a prefilter and clean it frequently...
Sponge filters do make great little bio filters. Just like sponges in an HOB make great little bio filters. It's amusing how many people say that first part but then refuse to accept the secondrt...
A powerhead/sponge filter is an option worth considering, especially if you have the parts just laying around.
As suggested by others, I also believe you have enough flow/surface area, and your tank is not yet mature... meaning you need more time for bacteria to colonize...
The reason ceramic noodles and the like have exceptionally high surface area is because they are filled with very tiny pores. If you do not adequately offer mechanical filtration to the water passing through the bio media these pores will get clogged thus drastically reducing the effective surface area of the bio media...
Thus a filter filled with bio media and no mechanical media will very likely be able to house less bacteria than the same filter with 25% mechanical media and 75% bio media.
In theory, wet/dry filters will oxidize ammonia/nitrite mroe efficiently than submerged media. But I am not so convinced of this. I understand quite well that our bacteria utilizes oxygen in it's metabolizing process, but just because you give it more than it needs doesn't in any way allow it to use the extra.
Wet/Dry filters became popular in Salt Water aquariums (salt water holds less oxygen than fresh) with very little surface agitation (oxygen enters water with surface agitation) run at higher temperatures (warmer water hols les oxygen). Thus under these conditions, the oxygen content of the water may suffer and the Wet/Dry approach is in fact more useful. But in the well oxygenated environments of our fresh water tanks, Wet/Dry filtration is more of a marketing tool than a filtration benefit.
Sure there are some situations where a Wet/Dry is beneficial, but we should not assume this is true in all cases.
If you want to fill your AC 110s with bio media, be sure to use a prefilter and clean it frequently...
Sponge filters do make great little bio filters. Just like sponges in an HOB make great little bio filters. It's amusing how many people say that first part but then refuse to accept the secondrt...
A powerhead/sponge filter is an option worth considering, especially if you have the parts just laying around.
As suggested by others, I also believe you have enough flow/surface area, and your tank is not yet mature... meaning you need more time for bacteria to colonize...
nc_nutcase;4151835; said:
man you should of said that at first
ima pick up two spnge filters tomorrow and attach em to my powerhead. so, i should just calm down and let time do its work? eventually ill have a sufficient amount of bb colonies.
iloveoscars702;4151842; said:man you should of said that at first
Nope... You should do frequent water changes to keep the ammonia under 0.5 ppm and the nitrite under 1.0 ppm... add the powerhead/sponge filters and let time do it's work...
nc_nutcase;4151859; said:
yeah ill have to start doing WC maybe everyother day to keep my levels safe.
