Internal Filter Question!

[Steveo1987]

Hiya Peeps,

Just wanted to ask people whether or not you could fill your internal filter with bio media instead of filter pads?

If anyone has a Jewel tank, an internal filter comes along with them as well as a whole row of filter pads from fine to coarse, carbon and "nitrate remover"?! Theres just basically a 1000 litre per hour pump on top that pulls the water trough the pads! Could you replace the pads with bio media to provide better filtration or would this make maintanance impossible?

Could you put the media inside something so its easily removed for partial cleaning and maintenance? Do you know what im saying when i say that, its hard to describe?!

I have a Fluval FX5 and 405 on my 450 litre tank but just want to make maintenance as simple as possible, removing the filter pads for cleaning with a big-ass Bichir and Oscar can get messy haha !!!

Thanks.

 

[bgcoop8784]

the sell mesh media bags at most pet stores, you could use pantyhose but it may restrict flow some, i'd try the mesh bags like they make for activated carbon.

 

[Steveo1987]

In your opinion would the bio media be better at filtering the water rather than the sponge filter pads? Its messy pulling the pads out when i need to clean them, im assuming that the bio media inside the filter box would be easier to remove and less gunge will spill into the tank then?! Anyone done this on there own tank??

 

[superluke]

i know the flters you are talking about remove the nitrate removal sponge and the carbon and just put the bio media in a bag on the top of the other sponges

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

yeah you could easily replace the foam in it just take it out and put bio media in i'd leave atleast a coarse sponge on top to prevent your bio media form getting gunky they you just have to change your sponge every now and again and not even touch your biomedia

 

[bgcoop8784]

should be better, just make sure you have some kind filter pad or floos before the bio-media for mechanical filtration.

 

[Steveo1987]

Thats great, just ordered some Eheim Substrat Pro and Eheim EhfiMech to fill the internal filter!!! Thanks

 

[Potts050]

Filter pads plug up and restriict flow too quickly unless maintained quite frequently. I don't use them in HOB's and would never consider them in a cannister.