Cascade 1200 mods....
- Thread starter Racersk
- Start date
I run 2 Cascade 1500's on my 120g and it is the perfect combo. I got them on-line for just a little over $100 each. I am waiting for a UV to come in to add to the system. I really want the "crispy" water!
The best mod I have found for the filter is to help eliminate the filters bypass. I cut 1 1/2" x 24" strips of the blue bonded filter material and wrap it around the bottom basket and the top basket. Its kind of a pain but you can tell that it works if you use the white pads on the top. Without the strips after about a month the white pad will be filthy which means you have a lot of by pass that is getting this thing dirty. If you wrap up the top and bottom baskets you will notice this white top filter will be very clean. The filter is actually now filtering!
Also this unit has very large baskets, so fill them up! Get some Matrix as was suggested by others.
Take time to regularly clean the impeller and housing along with the hoses to maintain a high flow rate.
The Cascade filters are great budget filters if you work around the by pass issue and keep the mechanical parts clean.
The best mod I have found for the filter is to help eliminate the filters bypass. I cut 1 1/2" x 24" strips of the blue bonded filter material and wrap it around the bottom basket and the top basket. Its kind of a pain but you can tell that it works if you use the white pads on the top. Without the strips after about a month the white pad will be filthy which means you have a lot of by pass that is getting this thing dirty. If you wrap up the top and bottom baskets you will notice this white top filter will be very clean. The filter is actually now filtering!
Also this unit has very large baskets, so fill them up! Get some Matrix as was suggested by others.
Take time to regularly clean the impeller and housing along with the hoses to maintain a high flow rate.
The Cascade filters are great budget filters if you work around the by pass issue and keep the mechanical parts clean.
I didn't 'email notify' this thread and I got a bunch of hit... Here's my synopsis...
DMD123,
Thanks for the tips, doing this tonight! Wrapping the top and bottom basket, AND I am filling up the bottom most with Fluval Prefilter media. I haven't found any Secham Matrix locally, I will be doing some onlne shopping tonight.
I have nice water, but I am after pristeen. Looking to get the most out of what I have... And I had to buy a heater tonight, checked and I was down to 71*...The heater was warm, but not hot, plus there was a lot of moisture inside the glass, a bad sign...But hey, it was a free 200W used heater that lasted 2 months,pretty good deal.
DMD123,
Thanks for the tips, doing this tonight! Wrapping the top and bottom basket, AND I am filling up the bottom most with Fluval Prefilter media. I haven't found any Secham Matrix locally, I will be doing some onlne shopping tonight.
I have nice water, but I am after pristeen. Looking to get the most out of what I have... And I had to buy a heater tonight, checked and I was down to 71*...The heater was warm, but not hot, plus there was a lot of moisture inside the glass, a bad sign...But hey, it was a free 200W used heater that lasted 2 months,pretty good deal.
On my filter here is how it i set up and here are my current specs...
bottom tray-fluval prefilter porus media.(no bag, just dumped it in and spread it out.) *wrapped with bonded blue pad as per description above-deleting bypas past the first tray
next tray was the original coarse foam with a white polishing pad on top.
3rd up is another polisher with my bag of ceramic rings
top tray -final polishing pad and a bag of crushed coral for my soft water, and I wrapped this one as well, like the bottom one.
10 hours after weekly ~40% water change.
Ammonia-not checked
PH-6.8
Nitrites-0
Nitrates- >40
Chlorine-0
kh-80
Test strip method of testing.
Also I am currently experiencing heating issues and the tank temp is at 71...Fixed it this morning, but it's still cold(usually ~78-79), glad I don't keep cichlaids...
bottom tray-fluval prefilter porus media.(no bag, just dumped it in and spread it out.) *wrapped with bonded blue pad as per description above-deleting bypas past the first tray
next tray was the original coarse foam with a white polishing pad on top.
3rd up is another polisher with my bag of ceramic rings
top tray -final polishing pad and a bag of crushed coral for my soft water, and I wrapped this one as well, like the bottom one.
10 hours after weekly ~40% water change.
Ammonia-not checked
PH-6.8
Nitrites-0
Nitrates- >40
Chlorine-0
kh-80
Test strip method of testing.
Also I am currently experiencing heating issues and the tank temp is at 71...Fixed it this morning, but it's still cold(usually ~78-79), glad I don't keep cichlaids...
Racersk
Hey just noticed you were in Covington, WA. I am in Tacoma.
If you have ever stopped at Aquarium Paradise in Lakewood you will find that these guys run most of their tanks on the Cascade canisters.
Just a suggestion on heating; Hydor ETH heaters are an awesome combo with a canister. You get the big glass tube out of the tank which is safer for your fish (no burns or broken heaters if you raise large fish) and you gain a little more in tank space as well as add a bit more realism. Also not having to get your hands wet to adjust the temp is pretty nice.
Hey just noticed you were in Covington, WA. I am in Tacoma.
If you have ever stopped at Aquarium Paradise in Lakewood you will find that these guys run most of their tanks on the Cascade canisters.
Just a suggestion on heating; Hydor ETH heaters are an awesome combo with a canister. You get the big glass tube out of the tank which is safer for your fish (no burns or broken heaters if you raise large fish) and you gain a little more in tank space as well as add a bit more realism. Also not having to get your hands wet to adjust the temp is pretty nice.
Haha, That's where I bought my Cascade from(The really tough looking guy that always helps me got my business!)! Just because he was filtering ALL his tanks with Cascades, that's product confidence!
I like that place, but he's kinda expensive on hardware/accessories. I usually get my fish there or Midway.
I am running a RENA composite heater (200W)ATM, I moved it and the filter I attached it too (Magnum HOT250) to this tank last night, but it has a 5* tolerance, if it is hotter or cooler than the set temp it flashes, and apparently doesn't heat when flashing! Stupid... I adjusted it this morning, so I am hoping to at least be at 75* when I get home... The Rena is basically a inlet screen with a heater built into it, jut attach your filters inlet into the top and your filter will circulate the heated water, just a variation on the same theme...
I'll look into the Hydor ETH though, looks like it works the same way, but hidden better.
I like that place, but he's kinda expensive on hardware/accessories. I usually get my fish there or Midway.
I am running a RENA composite heater (200W)ATM, I moved it and the filter I attached it too (Magnum HOT250) to this tank last night, but it has a 5* tolerance, if it is hotter or cooler than the set temp it flashes, and apparently doesn't heat when flashing! Stupid... I adjusted it this morning, so I am hoping to at least be at 75* when I get home... The Rena is basically a inlet screen with a heater built into it, jut attach your filters inlet into the top and your filter will circulate the heated water, just a variation on the same theme...
I'll look into the Hydor ETH though, looks like it works the same way, but hidden better.
The Rena is pretty much the same so no biggie with the Hydor.
I work in Lakewood so I some times have to make a "work related" (NOT!) trip to go get something. I agree that it does instill a bit more confidence in a product when a business is using what they sell.
I work in Lakewood so I some times have to make a "work related" (NOT!) trip to go get something. I agree that it does instill a bit more confidence in a product when a business is using what they sell.
