actually found a great thread on here for filter material, the beginners guide to filter media http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88677
Emperor 400
- Thread starter PirateOscar
- Start date
I've been using an Emperor 400 on a 75 gallon and the smaller Emp on a 46 gallon.
Filter material for the Empreror can get expensive if you buy them at the LFS.
Buy bulk via ebay, or a roll of filter material. If you can't buy either one then goto LFS that sells supplies for small outdoor ponds. Most of them will sell large squares of blue white filter pads. They should be around one dollar max. Just cut and attatch.
Then start using the pot scrubbies like everyone says, it works.
Note: When you need to clean your pads or pot scrubbies, only do one side at a time.
Filter material for the Empreror can get expensive if you buy them at the LFS.
Buy bulk via ebay, or a roll of filter material. If you can't buy either one then goto LFS that sells supplies for small outdoor ponds. Most of them will sell large squares of blue white filter pads. They should be around one dollar max. Just cut and attatch.
Then start using the pot scrubbies like everyone says, it works.
Note: When you need to clean your pads or pot scrubbies, only do one side at a time.
hybridtheoryd16;2193444; said:
Where did you get this info? For a moderately stocked aquarium, a turnover rate of 3-5 times per hour is sufficient. Of course, the type, quantity, size and feeding habits of the stock you keep will play into the equation, but an emperor 400 on a 55 gallon tank SHOULD be plenty for most fish keepers.
Back on topic, I like using sponges in my baskets on the emperor 400. Scrubbies are good too, but the Emperor already has a lot of surface area for bacteria, and your fish will only support so much bacteria. Any more surface area than needed simply goes to waste. The sponges keep the particulates out of the water, and the bio wheels support the bacteria.
At present, many hobbyists advocate a water turnover rate of 10x: 10 x aquarium capacity in gallons = required flow in gallons per hour. This is a general rule with many exceptions. -------taken from wikipedia ---------------This 10x turn over rate is for HOB filters. The general rule of thumb for monster fish keepers is and as far as i know has allways been a turnover rate of 3-5x is good for sump filtration, and a turn over of 6-8 is good for canisters and then a turn over for HOB is 10xplus. There are several threads about this that you can find on here by using the search function. i have personally read most of them.
I used to get E400's but I've been getting Penguin 350's lately. You can get P350's for $27 from Petsmart. It's not worth the extra 50 GPM rating for $15.
I also fill mine with AC filter foam. I find that the AC70 foam is the best buy. It's pretty easy to cut with scissors. For each side, I take 2 70 foam pads and put them in on the bottom, cut to fit the top ones from either 70 or 110 so they don't interfere with the biowheels and take the leftovers and cut a piece to fit around the intake tube
I also fill mine with AC filter foam. I find that the AC70 foam is the best buy. It's pretty easy to cut with scissors. For each side, I take 2 70 foam pads and put them in on the bottom, cut to fit the top ones from either 70 or 110 so they don't interfere with the biowheels and take the leftovers and cut a piece to fit around the intake tube
hybridtheoryd16;2246824; said:
Could you provide a link? I could not find the wikipedia article you refer to. I also could not find any articles here that suggest you need such a high turnover rate. In fact, if you go to this sticky: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94937 you will see you need less. I encourage you to offer advice, please just make sure the advice you offer is sound.
This is copied from the link that you gave---------------------------------------Wet/dry sump systems
.. 3X to 4XHOB filter systems
4X to 6XCanister filters
6X to 8XAll systems on heavily stocked aquariums
.10X + we are on a site called monster fish keepers. Any aquarium with a monster fish is considered heavily stocked to most. Because monster fish means monster waste. So even by your example the 10x still holds true. I would encourage you to atleast read the examples that you are putting forth as proof to your point. I would totally agree with your 3-4x an hour if we were on guppie keepers international. But it is just not so. i am going to make a new thread with a poll to find out what most people beleive to be true. We can both post up examples that someone has said and they maybe or maybe not correct.
