Media setup in a canister for cycling...

[RDTigger]

I am about to setup a 30g with a Fluval 403.... Should turnover 6x-8x per hour

What is the best way to pack a 3 basket canister for cycling?

I have some ceramic rings that were used, bacteria may be dead.. As it has sat for a while.

I have active carbon, fluval sponges and bonded filter padding. On hand I have a bottle of Aquasafe, Prime and some Bio-Zyme. I will be going to the store to get my hoses and intake/spray setup tomorrow. I have plans for Instant Aquarium Sand from CaribSea.


Any idea and thoughts on setup for a good start to cycling and longterm healthiness?

 

[Ali1]

most individuals use pot scrubbers and/or bioballs for their bacteria colony. The fluval sponges can be used as mechanical filteration. You can use one basket for carbon/zeolite for chemical filtration. If you don't care for carbon, you can fill it up with more pot scrubbers. After you finished cycling the tank, the bacteria will be located on the potscrubbers and various places in the tank.

 

[HarlanAshmore]

sat it up normally

 

[ProblEmZ]

What's the planned stocking? Any chance on more info on the ceramic rings? What's your planned method of cycling?

 

[RDTigger]

What's the planned stocking? Any chance on more info on the ceramic rings? What's your planned method of cycling?

Originally I wanted to do Clown loaches in a natural setting.. drftwood, malaysian plastics..

Realizing I would need a different tank...I have to regroup, still want Mopani driftwood and a river bed visual.. but considering cichlids or loach setup 3-5 of each with another smaller schooling fish.. Maybe a celestial danio.

Starting off i figured I would go fishless with foam pads, already circular being made for the canister, cut in halves for easy removal and throw some bio-zyme in between the pads and place that in the top basket. Keeping the bio-max in the bottom I would add carbon in a media bag for the middle section. The Instant Aquarium substrate is supposed to have bacteria in it, but can i really trust it works? I was planning on tossing in a cut piece of shrimp or fish to kick the ammonia cycle off.

I'll definitely throw in some scrubbies after what I have found on the forum. I should have lots of room for media. Along with the Fluval foam I should be able to build a strong colony of BB.. This canister is 8" in diameter and 12" high.... Seems rather large for 30g imo, might be able to support up to 60g if the flow rate is as advertised?

The ceramic rings look nasty. They are some bio-max, porous and fill an entire basket. I am not sure if I should leave them black and dry or boil them, just not familiar enough with BB.


Will run a dip test this morning on tap water to see what I find as my levels.

• nitrate->0-20ppm
• nitrite->0ppm
• total hardness->75ppm
• total alkalinity->80-120ppm
• pH->~7.8

 

[Bderick67]

most individuals use pot scrubbers and/or bioballs for their bacteria colony. The fluval sponges can be used as mechanical filteration. You can use one basket for carbon/zeolite for chemical filtration. If you don't care for carbon, you can fill it up with more pot scrubbers. After you finished cycling the tank, the bacteria will be located on the potscrubbers and various places in the tank.

I would disagree, most do not use scrubbies or bio balls in canister filters. While either work well in wet/dry filters they are not a good choice for canisters. The surface area of scrubbies, which is twice that of bio balls, is only a small fraction of that when compared with Bio max, bio glass, ehfisubstrat or matrix.

I would not use any mechanical media or chemical filtration in your filter until after the system has been cycled.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

avoid zeolite while trying to cycle. Just set it up with a filter pad and the rest bio media. Then search for fish less cycle and have fun

 

[RDTigger]

I would disagree, most do not use scrubbies or bio balls in canister filters. While either work well in wet/dry filters they are not a good choice for canisters. The surface area of scrubbies, which is twice that of bio balls, is only a small fraction of that when compared with Bio max, bio glass, ehfisubstrat or matrix.

I would not use any mechanical media or chemical filtration in your filter until after the system has been cycled.

That does make sense... If there are no sources of large particles why do I need mechanical filtration Also the bio-max media works better in closed systems like a canister from what i have read recently.While the canister has great turnover, it is not as efficient as a wet/dry therefore must cycle the tank faster.... I should add mechanical an pre-filters not long before adding polluting life to the cycle..

I will use Prime on tapwater before adding it to the aquarium and hopefully the bio-zyme and cut fish does the trick

avoid zeolite while trying to cycle. Just set it up with a filter pad and the rest bio media. Then search for fish less cycle and have fun

No experience with zeolite?... Only considered the carbon to start if my water was a problem. I think after initial testing I should be ok on hardness and nitrate/nitrite levels. I'll see what the LFS says.