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Filter floss before or after bio-media

walkerx

New Member
Joined
5 Jan 2020
Messages
14
Location
South Yorkshire
So I have my 407 setup in this way

first bit
Fluval blue foams
Fluval white foams

bottom tray
Fluval black foams
Filter floss

rest of trays
bio-home ultimate

Now I see a lot of debate regarding which way round to put the filter-floss, but I thought this would need to be before the bio-media and not after

Is there any benefit other than preventing a lot of gunk building up on the bio-media
 
Hi all,
I like to have any <"mechanical filtration in the pre-filter">, and even then <"not too fine a sponge">.
Now I see a lot of debate regarding which way round to put the filter-floss
removing it or only running it sometimes just to polish the water. All depends on what you want/current state of tank/the amount of time you actually have for maintenance etc!
I'm not a fan of floss either, and particularly not in the filter body, where it can be a "case of out of sight, out of mind".

It is fine if you swap it out every week, but I'm <"too shoddy and lazy an aquarist"> for that.

I just want <"oxygen and ammonia"> entering the filter, and even then the <"amount of oxygen"> is much more important than the <"filter media"> or the ammonia level.

cheers Darrel
 
I was debating whether to use just a fine foam after the last coarse or another medium foam initially, but have spare filter floss so used that

I do a water change every week and check the filter every month based on fluval recommedations
 
I was debating whether to use just a fine foam after the last coarse or another medium foam initially, but have spare filter floss so used that

I do a water change every week and check the filter every month based on fluval recommendations


I clean my filter with every water change. Maybe I'm nuts, but I used to neglect it and since flushing my filtration and seeing the impact it has on the system - I'm never going back. When I realized how quickly the filter floss got dirty (since I started checking it), I was shocked.

Cleaning my filter more intensely saved my pH drop at least an hour + I don't need my power head anymore to accommodate the flow in the aquarium.

I am still learning, but it may be worth removing it for a week (or a day), and seeing what happens, then putting it back -- then can make a decision about what you want.

Josh
 
Hi all,
I do a water change every week and check the filter every month based on fluval recommendations
I'd definitely clean the pre-filter a lot more regularly, probably with every water change initially.

Once you've got an idea of how quickly the pre-filter and/or the floss clogs, you can tailor your maintenance routine to that. Have a look at his link about the <"complete oxidation process">.

cheers Darrel
 
Hi all, I'd definitely clean the pre-filter a lot more regularly, probably with every water change initially.

Once you've got an idea of how quickly the pre-filter and/or the floss clogs, you can tailor your maintenance routine to that. Have a look at his link about the <"complete oxidation process">.

cheers Darrel
won't that cause extra wear on the o-ring having to keep taking it off to be re-greased? or is it ok to not re-grease everytime?
 
Hi all,
won't that cause extra wear on the o-ring having to keep taking it off to be re-greased? or is it ok to not re-grease every time
You don’t need to re-grease it every time. I tend to use silicon grease rather than spray, but I think the spray is fine.

That is partially why I like a big sponge on the filter intake, it reduces the need to open the filter.

Cheers Darrel
 
Hi all,You don’t need to re-grease it every time. I tend to use silicon grease rather than spray, but I think the spray is fine.

That is partially why I like a big sponge on the filter intake, it reduces the need to open the filter.

Cheers Darrel
I got small tube of the aqua one stuff

I did try a sponge on the filter intake but it was a cheap one from mini sponge filter and it didn't work and was getting sucked into the intake pipe so took it off
 
Hi all,
I've seen that eheim one, but wasn't sure if it would fit the 407 piping
I'm not sure, I never owned a Fluval filter, but I think they have ribbed hoses, so you might need to swap that for a smooth 16/22 hose. @ian_m ? @Zeus. ?

Fluval and Oase have gone down the route of putting the pre-filter inside the filter, but with a separate "easy access" for cleaning. This has the advantage of getting equipment out of the tank, but is a separate series of seals etc.

Personally I'm willing to trade having pre-filter (and heater) in the tank for the least complexity possible in the filter.

I'm a luddite, I don't want electronics, prime buttons etc. in my filters, I want them to fulfill their basic requirement of being <"a pump in a bucket">.

cheers Darrel
 
I quite like the ribbed hoses as you can get them round tight bends without kinking the pipes, which is handy with hooded tank
1590074137087.png


Open top tank I would use lily pipes and smooth tubing
 
IMG_20200521_161726.jpg

This my tank setup, my fluval pipes are on the side as filter in front of tank and can't get to the back (plus they won't fit over back due to euro-brace) - i have a cheap sponge filter at other side. plants slowly getting better just need to sort out as keep getting pulled out by the fish, but overall finally happy with the layout - just want to get a bigger tank if I can fully persuade the wife to let me
 
I've been experimenting with sponges/floss for a while and I've got to a point where the floss lasts around 6 weeks in my Fx6 and 8 weeks in my other canisters.

I say experiment because I had the thought to gradually mechanically filter the water, so by the time the water reaches the floss, there's much less particles to clogg it.

I'm running a 10ppi sponge on the inlet, 30ppi then 45ppi sponges around the trays, a Fluval max clean pad, coarse JBL floss then standard floss... I don't think 6 weeks is too bad for a such a high flowing filter.

What I see is different amounts/types of detritus on each grade of sponge, which shows that they're all doing their own part. I reckon if I removed the 45ppi sponge and max clean pads, the floss would last a couple of weeks at most.
 
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