Filter wool goes where now?

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Richie^Rich

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 27, 2009
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Sydney
Is it just me and the brands I buy, or are cannister filter instructions rather unclear about how to fill up the media trays? :screwy:

I've always placed the filter wool right up the top, because I saw an instructional video that told me to. Though now I actually (think) I know how a cannister filter works, this seems like the mechanical filtration would be after the biological, meaning more chunky bits clog up the biological media and eventually get converted to nitrates, rather than getting removed altogether. It seems a good way to prevent chunky bits and biological media from going through the impeller and destroying it though.

Should the filter wool be placed in the lower portions of the cannister? Seems like it would be a pain to changeover, but better for removing waste. Mind you, I'm basing this on the idea that the way a cannister filter works is via the inlet tube feeding water to the bottom of the cannister, than the impeller sucks it up through the layers of media and forces it up the outlet and into the tank.

Either way, cannister filters need better instruction manuals :irked:
 
i put my wool on top so it can catch all the debris that comes in.i don't know if that is the wright way but that is what works for me that way i can take the wool out once a week to make sure it is always clean.
 
I just do what Eheim tells me to do, thats the brand I use, they have lots of pretty pics on the box that the filter came in, and and if you throw that box away and forget, they also have some more pretty pics on there website to help.
 
I have an AquaPro2 and I do the same, I have wool up top, then on the next level there is a wool and sponge thing and then the media at the bottom.

I've always wondered, does it matter how much wool you put up at top?
 
A sump is easier to work out - it's clear where the water and detritus comes in, which is where the filter wool should go for maximum mechanical removal.

In regards to how much wool you use, I think that depends on the type of wool and how thick it is - it's a strainer after all, so you need as much as can do the job, but not too much to make it clog up easily (which is why the wool needs to be changed regularly). Pre-cut wool sheets made by some companies tend to be 2cm thick or so and cover the whole area of the basket, so that's probably the minimum that's needed. I've filled up a whole basket with wool and let it run, and when I changed it I noticed only half (the bottom half) to be dirty, and that's about 3cm worth.
 
It is best to follow the instructions for your particular manufacturer and model canister filter. The water flow through the filter may be from the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom. This would determine where the filter wool or fine media pads are located.
 
i do what eheim says ceramic rings then coarse sponge then substrat then polishing pad whick is pre much the same a swoll
 
My XP3 tells me to put it on the lowest tray, this way trapping the garbage to allow clean water into the bio chamber.
 
i always make sure i have something over my bio, because i dont want all this debris in my bio.....normally i have a tray a wool, then 2 of bio
 
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