Maintenance and media feedback wanted.

[david503bk]

So I am looking for feedback on how I stack my media and my maintenance routine. So I run 2 XP3's and a AC110, on a pretty stocked 155 gallon. So I have the stock foam filter and bio running in the ac110. Now in my xp3's. 1 foam 20, 2 foam 30's, and 1 layer of bonded filter pad in the bottom basket. Second basket is full of ceramic rings. Third is almost filled with substrate pro then topped off with rena's bio star thingy.

On to my maintenance schedule. I clean my filters every 2 months. Each filter is done 1 week apart. I use the water that is draining out to rinse and squeeze all my mechanical media till its as clean as possible. My main purpose for the xp3's is bio filtration, ac110 is mechanical. I will be purchasing another ac110 soon.

Now on to my concerns. Am cleaning the mechanical media correctly?
If not what is the best way?
Am I waiting too long to service my filters?
How often do I rinse my bio media?
What type of mechanical media is best to use in my ac110?
What type of media is best to keep my bio media from clogging for my xp3?

My main goal is to service filters every 2 months. I am open to suggestions. Please advise a fellow MFK.

 

[david503bk]

Hmm anyone want to give me their 2 cents?

 

[Malawi-]

I would add another HOB.. AC110 or Emperor 400... As for cleaning, just when it needs it.. Maybe it needs in in 3-4 weeks.. Just rinsing it should be fine.. They dont need to be replaced that often, just when they get real bad and cleaning doesnt help.. I dont use AC110 so I dont know much.. Any kind of media is good..

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I clean my filters and rinse biomedia when my flow rate drops. With my canisters, that's about 1-2x per year, hen my HOB flows over, and my powerhead-foam filter gets cleaned when it has accumulated too much gunk.

I refuse to go by a timed schedule.

HarleyK

 

[cichlid2006]

Howdy,

I clean my filters and rinse biomedia when my flow rate drops. With my canisters, that's about 1-2x per year, hen my HOB flows over, and my powerhead-foam filter gets cleaned when it has accumulated too much gunk.

I refuse to go by a timed schedule.

HarleyK

as for the stacking of media, i put a coarse foam on the bottom then put my bio media (i use ceramic noodles) then some filter floss/fine foam on top of the bio in the same tray then filter floss/polishing material in the top tray. works a charm for me.

 

[Bderick67]

I use the AC110 and XP3 combo on all my main tanks. I change 50% of my water weekly. The AC110s are cleaned weekly and the XP3s are cleaned very 3 months or so.

The AC110 is used mainly for mechanical filtration. I have the intake tube extended down to within a couple of inches of the gravel(don't do this with sand). I don't use the carbon only the sponge and the biomax. The sponge I have cut in two lengthwise so the pieces are stacked on top of one another. This makes for an easier cleaning, which is done weekly under hot tap water to remove all debries. The biomax is rinsed in tank water to preserve the bacteria.

I have the XP3s set up much like you see eheim canister filters set up. Lower basket is half full of Eheim's ehfimech http://www.petsolutions.com/Eheim-Ehfimech+I20625053+C102711.aspx or Fluval's prefilter http://www.petsolutions.com/Fluval-Prefilter+I15511470+C102713.aspx then followed with two of the 20 ppi foams. In the middle basket I have two of the 30 ppi foams and the rest of the middle basket is filled will a bio media(either ehfisubstrat or biomax). The top basket is all biomedia. I do not use any fine or micro filtration they just clog quickly. I also position the intakes so the will take in the least amount particle debries.

When I clean the XP3s the biomedia is rinsed in tank water and all other media gets a complete cleaning under hot tap water.

 

[david503bk]

Thanks every sounds good. I just need to clean my ac110 mech pads more often then.