Filters with the lowest maintenance

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Undergravel filters were once a popular methoud of filtration but have a number of problems. Thay are NOT a no maintaince filter requiring occasional gravel vacuuming to keep them operating properly. I doubt that was a serious post.
 
Thats true...theres a lot to be said for a LOT of little maintance rather than occasional afternoon long servace sessions. I know I stagger all of our filters. on the serface it looks like I'm always working on the tanks but it's never very much time each day. 15 minutes maximum in most cases.
 
aropal;1152318; said:
In terms of ease of use, filters with auto backwashing are clearly going to be easier to use than filters which require media changes even if those filters requiring media changes are open wet and dry filters.

I’m experimenting with a filer which has an auto backwash facility at the moment. It’s a pond pressure canister filter:
http://www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-filtration-24/pressurised-335/fish-mate-pressurised-pond-filters-599.html

The idea being that once every couple of weeks, as stated elsewhere on this thread, you can simply turn a knob and flush any solids suspended in the sponge prefilters within the canister. Doesn’t even require the operator to get their hands wet let alone clean anything manually.

Backwashing like this delivers the additional benefit of providing a solids export path, as discussed, which would other wise be contributing to the bioload by their decomposition.
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I have a pond pressure cannister also but no backwash. I break it open once a month and just need to rinse the filters (with aquarium water).
 
1commander;1164743; said:
What's a UGF? Do you really not have to maintain it ever? That doesn't seem like it would be possible, considering waste WILL eventually build up.
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It's possible. The waste under the plates become food for BB. I have UGF for years and NEVER clean underneath the plates. I can match my water quality with any bare-bottom tank water any day.

Wolf3101;1164834; said:
Undergravel filters were once a popular methoud of filtration but have a number of problems. Thay are NOT a no maintaince filter requiring occasional gravel vacuuming to keep them operating properly. I doubt that was a serious post.
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No. you vacuum gravel because you have gravel. Not because you have UGF.
 
eheims are great once every 6-12 months maybe even longer!
 
Buckdog;1165315; said:
I have a pond pressure cannister also but no backwash. I break it open once a month and just need to rinse the filters (with aquarium water).
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Pond filters are a much overlooked solution. You can get a large bucket filter for a fraction of the cost of an aquarium filter and no more than the DIY alternatives, you just need to supply your own pump.

Wolf3101;1165046; said:
... 15 minutes maximum in most cases.
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Wow, 15 minutes a day!? Now I feel a complete slacker!

When the solids handling pump and backwashing filter are implemented the only maintenance I'll be doing will take 2 minutes every couple of weeks.
(If I could find a servo valve actuator that would fit I could avoid even that.)

Am spending a little time cleaning the front glass at the moment but a herd/flock/pack/shoal ???? (or whatever the collective is for aquatic snails) of freshwater Nerites will eventually sort that problem out as well.
 
Zeppelin3k;1152240; said:
its hooking a hose up to my canister and back flushing it.... sorry i dont have a drip system and can not hook one up, maybe i could have my mom do all my maintenance, and then it would beat anything you ever do. sorry, but IMO, which i do have one if i am correct, but IMO, its the easiest filter to clean out of all of my tanks. I dont see how a wetdry could be much harder or alot more difficult, your not really fighting a fair fight. Apples and oranges
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I agree with zep

With fresh water, forced filtration will and can handle much much higher bio loads then a gravity fed wet/dry sump.

I use a DIY ocean clear style setup bc my wet/dry sump was not cutting it.

I clean it every 2 or 3 months just bc i like new carbon in my filter but have let it go maybe 7 or 8 months with out touching it and it does just fine
 
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