Filter Media for Eheim 2217 for planted goldy tank

AbbeysDad

Fine filtration should absolutely be done in the first stages to prevent organic solids from reaching the chemical and/or biological media as the 'shmutz' can have a fouling counter productive affect in those stages.

For what it's worth, it appears you should service your filter more often.

Mikaila31

I always do fine filtration very last in my canister. The more spread out it is the more stuff that will be caught via the gradient and longer the filter can run without have flow be effected. I've never seen any effect of mulm on my ceramic noodles I don't see what it could harm in the first place. The rena is setup with flow through 30 ppi sponges, 20 ppi sponges, ceramics, random AC sponges, filter floss, and more filter floss. Which is how they recommend running it....

As for cleaning canisters, it should look like that if its doing its job right. And its a planted tank, keeping mulm out of a planted tank is like keeping rain out of the rainforest. Besides in my belief it is beneficial in a planted tank. I'm pretty sure half the substrate in my smaller 20 gallon consists of that stuff.

AbbeysDad

Kids today just don't listen.
It seems to me that you really do want to filter the crud in the first stage so as not to sludge up your chemical and/or bio-filtration, especially when you trap it with fine material in your last stage.

Oh, and pick up your room!

underh2o

I would suggest that you use what comes with you ehiem!! The way that it is layerd works great. The ehfimech (noodles) catch and trap large debris, your next layer is a coarse sponge, than the bio media and finaly a fine sponge.. They say to change a portion of the bio media with each cleaning but that iup to you. I have four ehiems running for allot of years the only thing I change are the sponges when they get a little old. Its a great filter which you can modify to what ever you like but why mess with success??

zfarsh

Hi Underh2o, when you say the only thing you change is the sponge, do you mean actually the fine filter floss at the last stage, cause i figured that the only thing i would change if not having the carbon, and replacing the carbon with purigen and regenrating it?

Also, pls confirm you never personnaly change part of your bio (ehfi substrat pro), i think they say 1/3 per year, but i preffer not doing this.

underh2o

Yes I change both filter pads or sponges {what ever you prefer to call them ) when they get old. Untill that time I just rince them well. I have used filter floss instead of the fine sponge but only when I did not have a new sponge. I would not suggest using floss to replace the first (coarse sponge) because it will clog quickly.

Skooter

So I should reconsider using 2 Aqueon 50's on my 55gl with 20% plants and 20ish tetras,small pleco,ruby shrimp's.. I am currently using similar set up on smaller tank and all seems well for the last 6 mo.Economically hob's are ideal over anything else..IMO

Mikaila31

All my stages trap mulm to varying degrees. 1st stage is coarse filtration, 2nd stage is bio-filtration(ceramics), 3rd is fine filtration(floss). There is mulm in all stages when I clean it.... that picture was the first rinsing of the 1st and 2nd stage....

All my media is pushing 4 years or so except the filter floss which lasts like a year maybe.

My room makes my filter look clean.

Skooter

Just curious on why all the carbon haters. Is it not the best way to combat ammonia when using HOB's. I'm starting my 55gl tank. and have two millinnum 2000 hob's..It has the plastic media that is designed to catch large debris and create bio but if I just use that and some sort of filter screen, is that enough?.I do water changes weekly and since I use fine sand I can control what the fish leave on top.20% Live plants wood porous rock, pleco,ruby shrimp and heard of Neon's.

zfarsh

carbon removes the nutrients that the plant require. Since my tank is planted, i dont want the carbon filter. Also, carbon filter has to be changed too often, but as other have suggested, should be kept in stock for when adding medications or other cases when really necessary, but temporary.