Eheim 2028 advice please: adding more biomedia, less mechanical?

[888fish]

I have 2 x Eheim 2028 canister filters (only filters) running my 170G freshwater tank. The spray bars are positioned so most of the fish waste is sweep to one corner of the tank. I am considering removing the all of the Ehfi Mech on the one canister (opposite end fish waste collection) and replacing it with only Ehfisubstrat to provide more room for BB. I would still use the blue pad. THe other 2028 filter would be left as is with the Ehfi Mech.

Is this a good idea?

Thanks.

 

[deeda]

I don't think that is a good idea because the mechanical media keeps your bio media cleaner.

I prefer to set them up just like the directions state. This way, both filters are doing mechanical & bio filtration. This also gives you the option of alternating cleaning of the filters.

If you have any substrate, decor, rocks, etc in your tank, that is where most of the beneficial bacteria will live.

Hope this helps.

Dee

 

[tcarswell]

I would not do that. You should have plenty of bio surface area with your current setup. Its better to have the multiple stage mechanical as it lasts longer between cleaning and is more efficient.

 

[JakeH]

Keep the mech in there for sure.

 

[888fish]

Thanks for the replies guys. Water has been a bit cloudy lately. Probably overstocked!

 

[JakeH]

You check the parameters? As long as you dont have any ammonia or nitrite, you dont need more bio anyway. There's plenty of great water polishing media out there, which will probably help more.

 

[888fish]

Ammonia 0
Nitrates 20-25

Weekly 50% water changes
Fishes feed once a day, 5 days in the week.

 

[FishNCash]

tank size? i have two canisters running with prefilter and full media. i got two powerheads(koralia4 and non name powerhead) and water has always been clear. the prefilters and powerhead sponge get clogged fast. i just clean those and let the canisters run for 3-6 months before servicing.

 

[I<3fish]

I have 2 x Eheim 2028 canister filters (only filters) running my 170G freshwater tank. The spray bars are positioned so most of the fish waste is sweep to one corner of the tank. I am considering removing the all of the Ehfi Mech on the one canister (opposite end fish waste collection) and replacing it with only Ehfisubstrat to provide more room for BB. I would still use the blue pad. THe other 2028 filter would be left as is with the Ehfi Mech.

Is this a good idea?

Thanks.

tank size? i have two canisters running with prefilter and full media. i got two powerheads(koralia4 and non name powerhead) and water has always been clear. the prefilters and powerhead sponge get clogged fast. i just clean those and let the canisters run for 3-6 months before servicing.

There ya go, helps to read, lol.

To the OP, you are fine with what you currently have set up as long as you have more bio media than mech media you'll be fine.

 

[888fish]

I'm probably going to get flamed for being overstocked, but I have the following in my 170G:

- 10" Cichla Azul
- 12" Tigrinus catfish
- 6 x clown loaches (9", 6", 5", 5", 3.5", 3.5")
- 8" Indo Datnoid
- 5.5" NGT Datnoid
- 5" Flagtail
- 9" WC Ansorgii Bichir

Now, is having 2 x Eheim 2028 canisters filters enough? I just placed in one of those micron filtering sleeves for my powerhead.

Thanks.