Just bought one of those but it fills with air and then it floats. The air bypasses the filter media. Any ideas on how to keep the thing at the bottom of the tank and make it so that it could work.
Box Filter
- Thread starter honuskye
- Start date
These filters need weight to hold them down. Traditionally, people added activated charcoal or gravel as ballast. The air is supposed to bypass the filter material. That way, as air exits the filter, it draws water with it. The drawn water pulls outside water into the box filter and through the filter media.
I put a rock in with the floss and bury the base in gravel.Ive replaced most of mine with sponge filters though much easier to deal with.
The only sponge filters I saw were $15 the box filter was $7. I tried to keep it down with a large rock from the garden but it floats the big rock lol.
This box filter and air pump are in my room and make a little bit more noise than the hob that is also in my room. Can I unplug the box filter while I sleep(8 hours). There are only 2 red wag platies, and 2 mystery snails in a 10 gallon aquarium with some java moss and java fern. Will I lose the beneficial bacteria in the box filter will everything survive?
I love box filters!
Yeah, just have a small layer of aquarium gravel, carbon and/or ceramic media rings at the bottom of the filter. These will keep the filter in place. Also, you might want to tap the top of the filter as to expell any air bubbles after submersion.
To answer your question about shutting the filter off, don't! Since these filters are air-driven, the flow of oxygen and water is not as great as the typical HOT, canister, wet/dry filters, etc. So the crucial bacteria dosen't nearly get all the necessary levels of oxygen and nutrients that they require. These filters still work great but not nearly as effectively as their more modern counterparts.
Try a different air pump. Aquarium Pharm. Rena pump boasts one of the quietest pumps available. I have an Coralife Luft pump that is generally quiet.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3724&N=2004+113800
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7377&inm=1&N=2004+113029+2032
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2681/cat/561
Hope this helps!
Do you have any pics of the tank with the filter?
Yeah, just have a small layer of aquarium gravel, carbon and/or ceramic media rings at the bottom of the filter. These will keep the filter in place. Also, you might want to tap the top of the filter as to expell any air bubbles after submersion.
To answer your question about shutting the filter off, don't! Since these filters are air-driven, the flow of oxygen and water is not as great as the typical HOT, canister, wet/dry filters, etc. So the crucial bacteria dosen't nearly get all the necessary levels of oxygen and nutrients that they require. These filters still work great but not nearly as effectively as their more modern counterparts.
Try a different air pump. Aquarium Pharm. Rena pump boasts one of the quietest pumps available. I have an Coralife Luft pump that is generally quiet.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3724&N=2004+113800
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7377&inm=1&N=2004+113029+2032
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2681/cat/561
Hope this helps!
Do you have any pics of the tank with the filter?