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Hi all, You can use either, it honestly doesn't <"make a whole amount of difference"> - <"Is expensive bio media worth it?"> & <"HELX-13/K1 verse Foam in Canister Filters">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Yes, Stephan Tanner is Swiss and was already very much a Poret foam fan before he went to the USA. Words after my own heart. Personally I've got a lot of time for Dr Tanner <"Aquarium Biofiltration - SWISSTROPICALS">, he is a high powered research scientist by day, so <"Swiss...

Hi all, It is <"actually German">, but you are right about it being a "trade name". The company that makes it is <"EMW filtertechnik GmbH">. @JMorgan you have a thread <"Polyether vs Polyester/polyethylene foam filters (minor rant)">. I've still got some of the <"Yamitsu sponge blocks"> I...

Hi all, Point taken, I have both no sense of <"aesthetics and very weedy tanks">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Vice-versa if you don't mind equipment in the tank, a <"powerhead / big sponge combo"> gives you more filtration than you will ever need. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That makes perfect sense. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'd still have a thin layer of sand, it can be a really thin cosmetic layer, but personally I'm not a fan of bare bottom. Assuming that it is fairly easy to clean the sump sponges? I'd go without the intake sponge, or use a larger sponge, rather than just a slither, on the intake...

Hi all, That is partially why I'm keen on larger and / or coarser foam blocks. If <"life intrudes"> they give you some <"wriggle room">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Same for me. I think he is very good on <"microbial (biological) filtration">. Because I'm a great believer in a picture being <"worth a thousand words"> ......... <"Stocking of an Aquarium">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Same for me. They are my <"filter of choice"> and always have been <"My venture into my new 760 ltr planted tank ."> - <"Ammonia test kit and Urea">. I think brown is good, mine is the same as @Aqua sobriquet 's "white", but I'm assuming that is just because I don't have a big enough...

Hi all, What do you mean <"starting to believe ..........">. Honestly it is the truth, and the <"bigger the better">. Starting using the 12" x 4" x 4" Koi sponges was one of the best things I ever did. I only started because <"Rainbow Koi"> is 10 minutes down the road, you get <"a lot of...

Hi all, Consider me enraged. That is really the important thing. As long as the filter media is: Being bathed in dissolved oxygen rich water, and the water flowing out of the filter is still oxygenated? That is all that matters, it doesn't really matter what the journey was. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I've found a paper that quantifies dissolved oxygen usage, not actually in a canister filter, but very close. Wanhe Qi, Peter Vilhelm Skov, Kim João de Jesus Gregersen, Lars-Flemming Pedersen, (2022) "Estimation of nitrifying and heterotrophic bacterial activity in biofilm formed on...

Hi all, That is it. You could have a liquid with a very high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), like <"raw sewage">, where it would be impossible to get enough oxygen into it for <"full nitrification to occur in a sealed container">. Yes. The higher the BOD of the liquid is the <"more oxygen you...

Hi all, Some chrome and tail-fins might be a new option? By that time the market will have been flooded by "pump in a bucket by luddite" <"Eheim classic thermofilter">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I guess that is true for a lot of us, but I also think it is dependent upon the stocking density <"Bio Media for Planted Tanks.">. I like a filter for <"belt and braces">. I like to syphon any organic waste, I really don't want it in the filter. I actually have some mulm in the tanks...

Hi all, Honestly surface area is a total red herring, realistically dissolved oxygen is the only parameter that counts. I've had the good / misfortune to visit a lot of sewage works and if you can treat raw sewage without any permanent filter media, but with a huge amount of churn, you can...

Hi all, I might try these and a sponge, mainly because they work out cheaper than buying the plastic intake strainers <"https://www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/eheim-intake-strainer-12mm-4731-p.asp">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think the mistake a lot of people make is to have too small a sponge with too fine a pore size <"Intake Strainer -Positioning? Shrimp Guards? Hacks and all.">. I like these big sponge blocks <"Filtering the Scape">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is the real key, <"the filter"> is just part of a much larger <"and more resilient"> life support system. Good advice, but I'm guessing that @Rasborakel never got to the <"thick and sticky"> biofilm stage, but if their <"filter media was like that">? I'd probably try and rinse it...

Hi all, Yes, that is a good point. and so is that one. cheers Darrel

Hi all, If you are unlucky enough for this to happen again, just pour 3/4 of the water out of the canister filter, and open the taps etc. The media will remain wet and it should stop the filter becoming de-oxygenated. Oxygen is the thing that matters. It would depend a little bit on which...

Hi all, The Maxi-jet 400 is still going, I've had it since ~2005 and it has run continually for at <"least the last ten years">. I bought the <"Eheim AquaBall powerhead"> (<"1212 / 650">) as its eventual replacement. I always have a few spare sponges lying about, it allows me to donate the...

Hi all, That is the issue for me <"with a lot of filters"> too much complexity and too many gaskets. I'd never realised <"this was an issue"> until relatively recently. Looking back it was obviously naive, but I hadn't imagined that any-one <"would use the scaffold intake">(as supplied)...

Hi all, If you use a black sponge you could hide it in a corner? Personally, for me, the powerhead & Koi sponge combination <"Shrimp safe filter for 35l tanks"> is always a winner - <"Flourish and Flourish Excel">. You get a lot of <"filtration and flow">, a <"sponge grazing surface"> and the...

Hi all, 2315 <"old series">. cheers Darrel

...the questioner to <"Climate stripes - University of Reading"> and they said "well he obviously doesn't know what he is talking about, it is f*cking freezing", and I told them that you can both be right and that our cold weather doesn't preclude global warming, it is 40oC in Greece / the SW...

...he didn't reply and it is still on the web-site today (12-06-2024) - <"Biohome Media">. In terms of that product, if you ignore the cost etc., it probably works quite well, but <"not for the reasons he says"> - <"7.5. Denitrifying Media, Biohome and De*Nitrate in the Aquarium">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That would be my favoured option. Perfect, I'd probably keep the carbon sponge (it won't be "activated", but it is fine for mechanical/ biological filtration) and throw the floss away. You would need quite a big tank to hide that filter arrangement. Personally I had to turn him off as...

Hi all, Normally <"I would just do that">, but I can see it is a bit different with the design of the Superfish HOB filters <"Superfish Hang on Filter 50 - Hang-on Back Aquarium Filter">. I'd probably recommend putting a pre-filter sponge on the intake and then keeping the basket arrangement...

Hi all, You don't need to, it is actually the chelated elements in the trace element mix that provide the organic carbon (C) substrate for microbial growth. The potassium sorbate would supply a carbon source (the formula is (C6H7KO2)), but you would need enough "contamination" by macro-element...

Hi all, You can definitely add more volume acid, problems would only occur if you got to very low pH values. We know quite a lot about potassium sorbate (C6H7KO2), it is used as a preservative in foods - <"E202">. Have a look at @X3NiTH 's comments <"Trace Elements/CSM + B, UK or Import - What...

Hi all, I think it is sheep's wool, so not really suitable. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, I may have an investment opportunity for you - <"pump in a bucket" by luddite">. I <"still use mine">, although I'm not sure the heater still works. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You can leave them both in if you wish. Have a look at <"Is expensive bio media worth it?"> & <"Replace biohome ultra with foam?"> "Activated charcoal" stops being "activated" but is fine as a <"biological filter medium">, same with the <"ADA Bio Cube">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, It will depend a little a bit on the tank, but I usually give mine a swoosh around (under the tap) <"every couple of weeks">. Our <"water supply"> (in the UK) is <"relatively lightly chlorinated"> so you don't need to worry about "sterilising" your sponge <"Cleaning filter sponges in...

Hi all, I use the same sponges as <"pre-filters on canister filters etc">. Once it is wet all <"mechanical filtration media"> is <"biological filtration media"> as well, <"if that makes sense">? cheers Darrel

Hi all, They sell them as 4" x 4" x 4" cubes etc. as well, I just buy the big ones (it is cheaper) and cut them down to size. I think these are good, they are all based on on the ones that Stephan Tanner (<"Swiss Tropicals">) sell in the USA. I've got a <"lot of time for Dr Tanner"> -...

Hi all, Yes, you would, but I use these <"big sponge blocks they sell for Koi"> etc. They are £10 for a 12" x 4" x 4" sponge with a 1" central hole 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the sponge <"Consistency Deficiency">. They are really just a gimmick, the <"prime metric in nitrification"> is...

Hi all, Either will do, the finer sponge will need cleaning a bit more regularly. I like <"Eheim Substrat Pro">, but not if I have to buy it. <"Could you do this?"> It will give you a lot more sponge area. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You can silicone oil (for sewing machines etc.) as well as grease. cheers Darrel

Hi all, About £10 for 100g. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That would be the general finding on this forum <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. As planted tank keepers we have the advantages of: <"plant / microbe nitrification"> and <"a substrate">. This means we aren't interested in the denitrification of nitrate (NO3-) <"in the filter">...

Hi all, It was actually <"Panaque and sawdust"> that allowed me to see the wider picture with some of the issues with nitrification. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That would be fine, it is really doing the same job as a pre-filter. <"Yes I would">, but I'm not really interested in <"water clarity">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, If the filter floss filters out a lot of fines it is <"likely to clog">, and this could reduce flow far enough so that nitrification is compromised by lack of oxygen. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, What @Wookii says, because the plants (and microbes in the pre-filter and substrate) are sucking it all up. The brown colour will be a microbial biofilm, the colour is mainly the <"difficult to decompose"> carbon compounds. I like brown, but I don't like the <"biofilm to get too...

Hi all, Same for me. cheers Darrel

...it can sit there (like that) for a very long time period. All the "they must be continually supplied with ammonia or they'll die" is just b*llocks, oxygen matters, but nothing else does. Have a look at <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of...

Hi all, Could you put an air-stone in? If you don't have one, reduce the amount of water so that the media is just covered, that will increase the oxygen diffusion (by increasing the gas exchange surface area to volume ratio). A plant would also work if you put the bucket by a window...

Hi all, Plenty of them, I've not tried one, but <"https://www.amazon.co.uk/NICREW-Aquarium-Aerator-Accessories-Included/dp/B09JSFX3F2/?th=1">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, The piezoelectric ones are quiet. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I don't have access to it either. It is from 1999 and has subsequently been <"cited 86 times">. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to access at least one follow up paper. We used <"Siporax type media"> a little bit when we did the wastewater work, but <"they foul really easily">, which is...

Hi all, It is all <"smoke and mirrors">. We used to use a lot of <"Hydroleca">. <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I really like to encourage maximal biodiversity. I have <"very weedy tanks"> (below), which remain set-up permanently, <"I don't vacuum"> the substrate, <"I have tank janitors"> and the tanks will have some build up of <"persistent organic matter">. Dr Stephan Tanner talks about...

Hi all, That is the problem in a nutshell, we can't easily measure the <"level of dissolved oxygen in the filter body">. In terms of the <"amount of dissolved oxygen">, it is <"dependent upon the temperature">, but as near saturation (100%) as possible. All we can do is put mechanisms in...

Hi all, In nearly all circumstances you <"will have enough filter media">. It is the amount of <"dissolved oxygen"> that matters. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, In this case "less is more" and floating cell media is at its most effective for nitrification when it fills a relatively small volume (50% - 70%) of the available space <"https://www.ssiaeration.com/how-to-select-mbbr-media">. It is just back to oxygen again, you just want the...

Hi all, I do, and it is pretty quiet. It is an old one, when I believe the build quality was better. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, My filters <"aren't below the tank in a cabinet">, they are on work-tops etc. which means I have to be a lot more conscientious about keeping the hoses and pre-filters clean, because I don't have much vertical ht. difference to play with and otherwise I get these problems. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is a really useful observation and an <"oxygen effect">, the difference between air and water caused by the disparity between the 21% O2 in <"the atmosphere"> and the ~10 mg / L (ppm) <"dissolved in water at 20 oC">. Which is why you need an easy clean pre-filter, that you...

Hi all, You need <"the mechanical filtration">, in the pre-filter, to chop out any "waste" food, plant leaves, faeces etc. that will support the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, whose oxygen demand may then compromise nitrification. The filter has a finite amount of oxygen that enters it, and...

Hi all, Certainly does make some sense. <"Potential clogging"> is always the issue. When I began to talk to <"Plec. keepers"> etc. it became apparent that they sometimes had issues with <"unexpected fish death">, although they were really good fish-keepers (I'm not) and had large capacity...

Hi all, And that is actually a good thing. You have <"complete oxidation"> in the filter, all that means is that your filter could handle a <"much larger bioload"> or, probably more to the point for us, it could deal with a sudden increase in ammonia levels from <"emergency chloramine...

Hi all, Because I want to keep bulky organic matter out of the filter body, all I want in the filter body is ammonia and dissolved oxygen, and dissolved oxygen is the metric that counts. You run the risk that the filter will clog and levels of dissolved oxygen in the filter will be...

Hi all, That one. If you want to reduce the cleaning interval just use a larger pre-filter sponge. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, My filters are always like that, almost no biofilm and just some black <"tea grouts">. As well as a chunky pre-filter sponge I have <"Asellus and snails"> in my filters, so I'm guessing that they are part of the reason. I can't remember if any of the filters used to have <"thick and...

Hi all, Exactly that, any "mechanical filtration" media is going to <"start to become biological filtration media"> as soon as it is wet. cheers Darrel

Hi all, As you say "job done" <"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144860905000531"> - "Bjorn Rusten, Bjørnar Eikebrokk, Yngve Ulgenes, Eivind Lygren, (2006) "Design and operations of the Kaldnes moving bed biofilm reactors", Aquacultural Engineering, 34:3, pp. 322-331," and...

Hi all, They are 10, or 15, ppi sponge. I've got a few of them, but none in use at the moment. For preference I'm using the <"big sponge blocks"> on filter intakes (as well as powerheads), partially because you can get away with <"cleaning them less frequently">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, The <"Aquarium Science website"> has some figures. I <"also know"> that <"Viktor Jarikov"> was / is a sponge user. Therefore I'm going to say <"it doesn't make much difference">. There is actually an "easy way" to tell what works, and that is to look at aquaculture, and in that...

Hi all, I don't own any OASE filters (just <"pre-owned Eheim filters"> with a <"sponge on the intake">) but that is what I do as well. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Same for me">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think this is really important. Ideally I want <"dissolved oxygen and ammonia"> (the "fuel" for nitrification) entering my filter, I don't want any organic carbon rich substrates that are going to cause heterotrophic bacteria (and their oxygen demand) to multiply. I like the...

Hi all, That is one of the reasons I like a pre-filter, it means that you don't have to open the filter body very often. I'm not a very conscientious aquarist, so I'm always worried that <"out of sight is out of mind">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I definitely do. Canister filters are different from all other types of filter, in that they are sealed bodies, where a <"finite amount of oxygen"> enters the filter body and it can't be replenished inside the filter. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Definitely my preferred option. After that? Probably <"Secret Ingredient Soup"> That is really the question we <"still don't have answer to">, but remind me in ten years time (when we should have an answer), but I'm going to guess that sources of inoculum are pretty widespread. I...

Hi all, I think quite a few other people <"think this"> as well. As well as <"floating plants"> I'm obsessed with <"dissolved oxygen">, which means always having a pre-filter and <"not using your filter as a syphon">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I still like the <"Eheim Classic range">, you can get parts for them and they don't have too many gaskets or any electronics etc. I'm also a fan of a pre-filter, you can get the <"Eheim one">, but I mainly use <"the sponge blocks"> they sell for Koi filters etc. cheers Darrel

Hi all, There is some discussion in: <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee"> and <"The nitrifying microbes in aquariums and cycling">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I can see situations where you would need a filter (and I always have one) <"but I largely agree with this">. It is back to the <"sewage treatment works">, if you can get enough oxygen into the system, you can deal with huge bioloads. If you have a lower bioload (less <"Total...

Hi all, That sponge is a cut down 30 x 10 x 10 cm sponge that <"they sell for Koi ponds etc">. They are drilled 3/4 of the way down. You can buy them as 10 x 10 x 10 cm blocks as well, but I always buy the full size ones and cut them down as required. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I use these a lot. This one isn't in use at the moment, but it you can see that you don't need to use the crap suckers etc. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm not going to incriminate myself, but you probably know the <"answer to that one">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Same for me, double taps <"are really useful"> and I'd regard an inlet pre-filter sponge <"as essential"> cheers Darrel

Hi all, @Phargon what you need is some-one to send you an original pre-filter pipe and then run the filter and record the number of days until flow slackens noticeably. Then rinse and repeat with the new filter pipe. If you use the <"fine pre-filter sponge"> (45 PPI or 60 PPI) that originally...

Hi all, I don't know, but it looks better.......... cheers Darrel

Hi all, That looks better straight away. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Same for me">. Although I now run my <"Eheim Classic"> filters with <"double taps"> on the hoses. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You might like these <"7.4.6. Purigen in the Aquarium"> and <"Purigen Alternative">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They are beyond cute <"Slow 60 (ADA 60p low tech)">. <"Daphnia, Micro (maybe Banana) and Grindal worms">. I'm having some (renewed) Grindal worm issues at the moment, but you are more than welcome to some Micro/Banana Worms. PM if you want some. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Corydoras pygmaeus? A lot of people find that they <"lose fish over time">. I've kept them <"for a while now"> and I think the <"secrets"> are small live food items, stable water conditions and <"a lot of cover">. I keep mine in ~90% rainwater and I probably wouldn't go smaller than a...

Hi all, You could try a small HOB filter. @LondonDragon likes them. I'm a sponge filter fan as well. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I've just finished <"How does Prime detoxify ammonia and nitrite?">I really enjoyed it and have stolen various bits to use in later posts, it is absolute comic gold, and the posters on it <"obviously don't fear litigation">. I'm guessing that is where we are still: <"Seachem prime...

...tell you what is in "Prime" and "Safe". Amquel <"has a patent"> and it is sodium hydroxymethanesulphonate based. This is a really useful thread* <"How does Prime detoxify ammonia and nitrite?"> Tetrasodium EDTA <"EDTA - MOTM"> would mop up ions of higher valency (including any lead (Pb)...

Hi all, I'm a huge pre-filter fan, I wouldn't run a canister filter <"without one">. You can get the (unattractive) Eheim prefilter <"Prefilter">, they work OK, but I usually just use a <"big sponge block">. If I was more interested in aesthetics I'd probably use an Eck (Corner) Mattenfilter...

Hi all, I have a <"lot of pre-owned Eheim filters">, and I like them, but I'd be much warier of buying any new ones. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I may have a <"business opportunity"> for you. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think so. I've got <"no interest in aesthetics"> (or designer labels), but I can see why people might like an ADA Superjet filter and be <"willing to pay a premium"> for a shiny, stainless steel <"pump in a bucket">. I think we have to remain <"a broad church">, we can have...

Hi all, Carry on using them? They make very good hides for shrimps or small Corydoras fry <"C. hastatus permanent breeding set up">. I have a really <"big pre-filter sponge"> to stop an debris makings its way into the filter and I think this really helps with clogging. I'm like @_Maq_ , for...