Dr Joe;2075258; said:With proper mechanical filtration, the only reason to clean the bio-media is to remove dead bacteria occasionally. The bio-media does not need any detritus/mum or other particulate matter to function (actually it's a detriment as it covers the bacteria). The bacteria receives all it's nutrients from what is dissolved in the water.
The ill effect is have so much media that the flows over too much, thinning the nutrient stream and bing on the verge of instability. Plus allowing for the possibility of water channeling (not Shirley's kind) past the major part of the bacteria (as bacteria grow on the bio-media they create resistance to flow, hence the channeling).
And remember, with having very large nutrient generators, if you loose one a good deal of bacteria are going to die off if it's not replaced quickly and a ammonia spike (mini cycle) if you wait to long and then replace it.
The guys are right, let the testing speak for the filter's performance.
Go large on the mechanical and you can go +30% on the bio...Just don't use it as an excuse to overstock.
It's a good thing this is science and not magic, 'cause I think it would be to hard to pull a fish out of a hat.
Dr Joe
.
Way to work in a Shirley McClaine reference, Doctor!
