Jakes
Member
So I have been running a fairly basic filter insert setup for a while now and thought I would post it here for comment/discussion.
I stopped using any chemical filtration a while ago up to that point i used a phosphate sponge and activated carbon.
The filter is a AquaManta EFX300 rated at 1100L/h.
So my media in the filter from bottom(in) to top(out).
Layer 1 - Plastic Bio Balls, this is to catch the larger particles (leaves etc) and spread the water flow a little
Layer 2 - first of two media baskets in which I have two grades of sponges and filter floss:
Close up of the sponges and floss the flow goes blue black white:
Layer 3 - last basket, I have a mix if Fluval ceramic rings and sintered glass media that came with the filter, i top that of with another black sponge, basically to fill the basket and stop the media from rattling about in the canister
I packed the Fluval rings in a layer at the bottom then topped it off with the sintered glass media:
I then add the black sponge to top it all off before replacing the filter pump housing.
Originally the manufacturer's layout was the following order:
Bio Balls
Tray 1
Sintered Glass Media
Coarse sponge
Tray 2
Black sponge
Phosphate sponge
Carbon
After reading various articles on filtration I opted for the setup I am currently running. In my mind anyway the water gets 'cleaned' from foreign matter before reaching the ceramic/sintered glass media and then biological action can take place. Clearly the sponges and bio-balls will also hold bacteria, and i only rinse them in de-chlorinated water to maintain the bacteria but my 'main' bio filtration is the ceramic media.
The filtered water then enters the tank but I have a in line CO2 Atomiser to add even more CO2 after the bacteria used what oxygen they could.
Comments discussion always welcomed.
Regards
Jakes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I stopped using any chemical filtration a while ago up to that point i used a phosphate sponge and activated carbon.
The filter is a AquaManta EFX300 rated at 1100L/h.
So my media in the filter from bottom(in) to top(out).
Layer 1 - Plastic Bio Balls, this is to catch the larger particles (leaves etc) and spread the water flow a little
Layer 2 - first of two media baskets in which I have two grades of sponges and filter floss:
Close up of the sponges and floss the flow goes blue black white:
Layer 3 - last basket, I have a mix if Fluval ceramic rings and sintered glass media that came with the filter, i top that of with another black sponge, basically to fill the basket and stop the media from rattling about in the canister
I packed the Fluval rings in a layer at the bottom then topped it off with the sintered glass media:
I then add the black sponge to top it all off before replacing the filter pump housing.
Originally the manufacturer's layout was the following order:
Bio Balls
Tray 1
Sintered Glass Media
Coarse sponge
Tray 2
Black sponge
Phosphate sponge
Carbon
After reading various articles on filtration I opted for the setup I am currently running. In my mind anyway the water gets 'cleaned' from foreign matter before reaching the ceramic/sintered glass media and then biological action can take place. Clearly the sponges and bio-balls will also hold bacteria, and i only rinse them in de-chlorinated water to maintain the bacteria but my 'main' bio filtration is the ceramic media.
The filtered water then enters the tank but I have a in line CO2 Atomiser to add even more CO2 after the bacteria used what oxygen they could.
Comments discussion always welcomed.
Regards
Jakes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk