Filter Media Questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You won't need additional bio with the reactor. It's really easy to overkill with them.

I'm running 2 and still chose to use 50 lbs of rings. That way I can rob the rings and throw up a new tank in no time. Rings are also way easier to rinse off then scrubbies or bio balls. They're a lot more universal as they seem to work efficiently in a submerged or wet dry enviroment. I still use pot scrubbies and bioballs as well in my system, they're in a bio tower wet/dry.

Mechanical is where I'd be paying attention to. Reactors end the bio debate in my opinion, however mechanical is wayyyy different. There are several ways to achieve good mechanical filtration. I'd be sure to leave plenty of extra space for it. In my opinion you need several different sizes to keep things running smoothly without having to clean/replace media weekly or even more.

I'm looking at having to swap out socks every 2 weeks at the longest and I'm running (4) 7x16 100/200 micron combo socks. Definetly will be looking into better pre sock mechanical. Sponges, brushes, or settling/vortex all come to mind.
 
Thanks for all the info guys! Not even thinking about it but I am running ceramic media on my little goldfish pond outside.

I will look a lot at the mechanical filtration and see what I come up with. Part of this can not be fully determined until the tank is in place, all getting built in wall and has to be contained underneath and next to the tank.

Nobody has a good source for ceramic rings do they? I like the idea of having them in there and being able to pull them out to run another tank if needed (QT tank is my thinking).
 
op, these guys know what they are talking about!! i wish i have asked the same question u just did before i set up my tank and sump. i have a 500g with 135g sump. i have more than 20g of bioballs, 1000+ scrubbies and matala pond filter pads. nitrate/ammonia are non-existent with bi-weekly 30% water changes. my biggest problem is mechanical like the experts here mentioned. i'm going to buy another 125g to build a new sump that will utilize settling/vortex like DB JUNKIE mentioned. the uv is not going to do well with lots of particles in the water.
 
pond matrix, 100 bucks for 20L, thats what im planning on for bio, but we will see how well it works on my 500g. i guess time will tell if this is enough, but sounded like cheapest and best submerged media
 
Does anyone have any more information on the settling / vortex type pre filter?

This idea interests me just unsure if I have enough space to design or utilize this.
 
tanglovers;5074381; said:
Does anyone have any more information on the settling / vortex type pre filter?

This idea interests me just unsure if I have enough space to design or utilize this.
Click to expand...

Likely don't have the room. Takes a large volume and low flowrate to achieve the needed retention time. Given space constraints it's hard to beat several different sized pads/sponges.

Ceramic rings... Charlie and the fishtank factory here is where I got mine. I wouldn't bother with the cheap grade ones though....
 
Thanks for the info!

When running multiple sizes of filter pads / sponges, can you stack them or do they need to be seperated?
 
I ran my bio towers with 3 different grades all sandwiched betwen spraybars and drip plates.

Course sponge, medium pad, fine pad. Not sure on micron ratings but I know after years of service with regular pad changes I had some pretty clean scrubbies when I tore my tower down to move.

I got all my pad and sponge from aquaticeco.com they also have some stainless screen that may be worth looking into. I'd think that to be much easier to clean then pads.

Socks are great but in the case of a bio tower it's much easier to incorporate pads.
 
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