Eheim slow water flow
- Thread starter DanProwse
- Start date
No, it isn't wrong. You might try a little tact as well. There is no problem running filters with no mechanical filtration. Especially medias like Ehfisubstrat pro, or bio-max. Do some research, and gain some real experience.
Frankly, I can't believe what I'm reading. You never expose biologic media to raw aquarium water. You're dead wrong about Ehfisubstrat Pro. I'd say you're the one lacking experience.
Solid waste will not harm bio-media in any way. Nor will it damage fish. I have run filters without mech filtration media for over two decade with no ill affects. Mechanical filtration is only for clearing the water of solid waste. The bio-media only needs to be kept from coming in contact with tap water that has chlorine in it. I have plenty of experience when if comes to filtration, and have run many different systems.
brianp;1309924; said:
WyldFya;1309951; said:
brianp;1310081; said:
WyldFya;1310087; said:
I see no problem in using only biofiltration. You would have to clean the media with tank water once in a while to keep the flow through it going, but I have seen no evidence to support a claim that beneficial bacteria will be harmed by solid waste product or detritus. Like Chris said, might want to be a little more tactful instead of dismissing someones opinion outright and substituting your own reality.
brianp;1309924; said:
Wrong?
I've had a number of canisters running this way for 10 years or more without a problem as have many others on this board.
As I stated before...Wyld's correct. Bio-media will easilly allow normal tank debris to pass through it without clogging, so I fail to understand your contention that you can't run a canister...or any other filter for that matter with nothing but bio-media. It's NOT necessary for every filter in your system to run all three types of filtration. You seem to be assuming that we are recomending running the ONLY filter on a tank this way and thats simply not the case. The mechanical filtration is far better handled by a HOB unit like an E400 or an AC110 that can quickly and easilly be cleaned out....removing the fish waste and uneaten food from the water before they become a large part of the bio-load.
This eliminates the need for constant canister servacing and allows the mechanical filtration to be carryed out by HOB units like the E400 or AC110 that can be quickly and easilly servaced....removing the debris from the water long before it can become a problem.
I just want to throw in my vote on this one. Cannister filters make outstanding biofilters hands down. They are on the whole marginal mechanical filters due to the simple fact that their performance degrades as they reach their capacity for storing debris.
This impacts their performance as biofilters to a degree by reducing flow and therefore reaction time to nutrient spikes in the tank, although you could argue that the breakdown of debris in the filter provides nutrients for the bugs and therefore encourages a stable population. Debatable.
HOB's are much easier and less messy to clean and are therefore the natural choice for mechanical filtration, if properly maintained.
Using both types on a large tank provides IMHO the optimum filtration this side of a wet/dry.
I will dissent on one comment though; it is my experience that a faster flow rate in a cannister filter means better biofiltration. We need to remember that even in tremendous velocities of flow through a filter, there is a thin layer (called the laminar layer) of water on the surface of the media where there is a zero flow rate. It is in this contact layer that the bacteria live and do their work. There is an exchange of gases and nutrients between this layer through the process of difusion which the bacteria utilize to nourish and respirate. Therefore it makes sense that the faster the flow rate (to an upper limit of course), the better the filter works.
My recommendation is to use a cannister as a biolfilter with a porous large granular material only. My favourite is crushed staghorn coral for hard water and pumice gravel for soft water. Use the sponges for vibration dampers for air pumps or something. Let the debris the filter picks up blow through. Incude a few live snails in the media if you have fish that will eat small snails. They will graze on the bacteria and stimulate more rapid growth in response to their predation.
A set up like this will run without needing a cleaning for years at a time.
Mechanical filtration is over rated anyway. We are as arule too fastidious in cleaning debris from our tanks. I've found that I can let a lot more debris acumulate in the corners of my tanks without the fish being stressed than I thought. Mind you I'm not keeping RBP's or any other viscious predators that leave my water a bloody mess either...
Just my opinion...
This impacts their performance as biofilters to a degree by reducing flow and therefore reaction time to nutrient spikes in the tank, although you could argue that the breakdown of debris in the filter provides nutrients for the bugs and therefore encourages a stable population. Debatable.
HOB's are much easier and less messy to clean and are therefore the natural choice for mechanical filtration, if properly maintained.
Using both types on a large tank provides IMHO the optimum filtration this side of a wet/dry.
I will dissent on one comment though; it is my experience that a faster flow rate in a cannister filter means better biofiltration. We need to remember that even in tremendous velocities of flow through a filter, there is a thin layer (called the laminar layer) of water on the surface of the media where there is a zero flow rate. It is in this contact layer that the bacteria live and do their work. There is an exchange of gases and nutrients between this layer through the process of difusion which the bacteria utilize to nourish and respirate. Therefore it makes sense that the faster the flow rate (to an upper limit of course), the better the filter works.
My recommendation is to use a cannister as a biolfilter with a porous large granular material only. My favourite is crushed staghorn coral for hard water and pumice gravel for soft water. Use the sponges for vibration dampers for air pumps or something. Let the debris the filter picks up blow through. Incude a few live snails in the media if you have fish that will eat small snails. They will graze on the bacteria and stimulate more rapid growth in response to their predation.
A set up like this will run without needing a cleaning for years at a time.
Mechanical filtration is over rated anyway. We are as arule too fastidious in cleaning debris from our tanks. I've found that I can let a lot more debris acumulate in the corners of my tanks without the fish being stressed than I thought. Mind you I'm not keeping RBP's or any other viscious predators that leave my water a bloody mess either...
Just my opinion...
